Vibes Bounce Back with Victory Over Raptors

Colo. Springs, COLORADO - Despite losing both games of yesterday's twin bill, the Rocky Mountain Vibes bounced back with a sound victory over the Ogden Raptors Saturday night. Bryan Torres' four-hit game highlighted the 5-1 win over Ogden.
After dropping both games of yesterday's doubleheader against Ogden, including being shutout in game one, the Vibes found their way onto the scoreboard first tonight in game three of this four-game series against the Raptors. In the bottom of the second inning Jess Williams led off with a single, followed immediately by a Micah Bello single. A groundout then moved both runners up 90 feet, before Luis Avalo singled home Williams, and Nick Egnatuk hit a sacrifice fly to score Bello and give the Vibes a 2-0 lead.
In the next inning the Vibes scored again, extending their lead to three runs. Torres hit a one-out single, moving up to third on Jose Sibrian's sixth double of the year. Williams then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Torres to make it 3-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Vibes tacked on two more. Cam Devanney led off with a triple, coming home one at-bat later on a Torres RBI single. Torres then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, scoring on a Sibrian sacrifice fly to give the Vibes a 5-0 advantage over the Raptors.
In the top of the seventh inning, Ogden broke up the shutout. With runners on the corners, the Raptors attempted a double steal, with the trail runner being thrown out at second but the lead runner safe at home to make it a 5-1 ballgame.
That would prove to be Ogden's only run of the night, as the Vibes took game three 5-1, putting the series at 2-1.
The Rocky Mountain Vibes wrap up their seven-game homestand tomorrow with the fourth and final of a four-game series against the Ogden Raptors, with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m. The game will be available on MiLB.TV as well as the MiLB TuneIn app. For all information on the Vibes, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @vibesbaseball and visit the team's website at www.vibesbaseball.com.
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Tomorrow's Preview: The Vibes wrap up their seven-game homestand with the fourth and final game of a four-game series against the Ogden Raptors, with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m. The Raptors are slated to start righty Jeronimo Castro (2-0, 3.66) against Vibes Michele Vassalotti (3-3, 6.53). The game will be available on MiLB.TV as well as the MiLB TuneIn app.
All-Star Status: Recently named all-star Karsen Lindell made a start Friday afternoon in the first game of the doubleheader and was brilliant. Lindell worked five innings of scoreless baseball, allowing four hits, and no walks with six strikeouts. Lindell along with Micah Bello and Nash Walters will be heading out to Boise, Idaho for the All-Star Game on August 6.
Doubleheader History: After a rainout Monday night, the Rocky Mountain Vibes played host to the Orem Owlz Tuesday night for the first doubleheader (two 7-inning games) in team history. The Vibes won Game One 7-6, coming from behind to score four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game, and then walking the game off in the bottom of the seventh to take game one of both the series and the twin bill. In Game Two, the Vibes fell behind 3-0, took a 4-3 lead on the Vibes' first-ever grand slam, fell into a 4-4 tie, and then scored two late runs in the sixth to win Game Two 6-4 and complete the doubleheader sweep over Orem.
The Vibes hosted Ogden to a doubleheader Friday following a rainout Thursday night. In game one, the Vibes fell 1-0 in a pitchers duel. Starter Karsen Lindell worked five scoreless innings and the only run scored by Ogden came in the 7th on a sacrifice fly from Zac Ching. The Vibes fell flat in game two, falling 11-5. Three Ogden home runs including a grand slam by Brandon Wulff left the Vibes in a deficit too large to overcome.
Colorado Day (August 1st): In honor of Colorado Day, here is a look back at Colorado Springs games on Colorado Day over the years. The Millionaires won their first game falling on Colorado Day on August 1st, 1901, defeating the Des Moines Prohibitionists, 4-2 at Washburn Field in Colorado Springs. Then Vice President Teddy Roosevelt was in Colorado Springs that day as part of the state's "quarto-centennial" celebration. Roosevelt, who was also in town for a Roughriders event, met up with city founder William Jackson Palmer in front of the Antlers Hotel for a statue dedication of Zebulon Pike. Roosevelt spoke in front of a crowd of about 10,000 that day. (About six weeks later, Roosevelt would become the 26th President of the United States, after President William McKinley was assassinated.) As for more recent eras, the Single-A Sky Sox (1950-1958) were 6-6 on Colorado Day (4-1 at home, 2-5 on the road). During the Triple-A era (1988-2018), the Sky Sox were 14-15 on Colorado Day (8-5 at home, 6-10 on the road). Last year the Sky Sox lost to the Reno Aces, 10-9 in Reno. The last time the Sky Sox were at home on Colorado Day: August 1st, 2016, beating the Oklahoma City Dodgers, 9-4.
How Sweep It Is: With the 10-2 victory over Orem Wednesday night, the Vibes completed their first series sweep in team history, three games to none over the Owlz.
Colorado Springs Alums on the Block: While there were flashier trades in MLB involving big names like Zach Greinke or Trevor Bauer, there were a couple of MLB trades in the last few days involving former Sky Sox players. On Wednesday 7/31, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired pitchers Drew Pomeranz and Ray Black from the San Francisco Giants for San Antonio Missions infielder Mauricio Dubón. Pomeranz pitched in 24 games with the Sky Sox (2012-2013), going 12-5, with a 3.60 ERA. Dubon played 85 games over the last two seasons with the Sky Sox (2017-2018), going .295 with 10 homers, and 51 RBI. On Wednesday 7/31, the San Francisco Giants acquired infielder Scooter Gennett from the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later. Gennett only played in 17 games with the Sky Sox in 2015, batting .307 with two homers and 11 RBI. On Wednesday 7/31, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired outfielder Corey Dickerson from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named to be named later and international bonus pool money. Dickerson played in 78 games with the Sky Sox (2013-2014), batting .372 with 11 homers and 51 RBI. On Tuesday 7/30, the Atlanta Braves acquired pitcher Chris Martin from the Texas Rangers for LHP Kobly Allard. Martin pitched in 25 games in relief for the Sky Sox on 2014, going 1-3 with a 4.39 ERA in 26⅔ IP. On Monday 7/29, the Milwaukee Brewers acquired pitcher Jordan Lyles from the Pittsburgh Pirates for RHP Cody Ponce. Lyles did make one rehab appearance with the Sky Sox on July 30th, 2014, pitching 4⅔ IP in relief, picking up the win, allowing no runs and three hits, as the Sky Sox beat the Nashville Sounds, 6-0 at Security Service Field (now UCHealth Park). Ponce did not appear with the Sky Sox, pitching at Double-A Biloxi this season. On Sunday 7/28, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired infielder Eric Sogard from the Toronto Blue Jays for two players to be named later. Sogard played in 51 games with the Sky Sox (2017-2018) with three homers and 28 RBI.
Jess of All Trades: In both games of Tuesday's doubleheader, Jess Williams played first base for the second and third times this season. Through Tuesday, Williams had played three games at first base, four games at second, six games at third, six games at left, 10 games in right field, three games as the Designated Hitter, and even two pitching appearances.
Kahle is Good for You: In the bottom of the third inning of Game Two of Tuesday night's doubleheader, Nick Kahle hit the first grand slam in Vibes history, sending the Vibes from a 3-0 deficit to a 4-3 lead in the process.
First Half Recap: The Rocky Mountain Vibes completed the first half of the 2019 season last Thursday night in Grand Junction, posting a 17-21 record through 38 games.
The Vibes finished June with a 6-9 record, going 2-7 at home and 4-2 on the road in the inaugural month of the 2019 season. The team batted .251 in those 15 games while collecting 86 runs on 132 hits with 32 doubles, eight triples, 11 home runs, 75 RBI, 48 walks, 142 strikeouts, 17 stolen bases (11 caught stealing), and a .323/.405/.727 line. On the pitching side, the Vibes staff posted a 5.89 ERA through 133 innings with four saves in six opportunities, allowing 108 runs (87 earned) on 126 hits, 23 of which were homers, giving up a league-leading 108 walks while striking out 152 batters.
Through July 25 (end of first half), the Vibes sat at an 11-12 record in July with a 6-8 road record and 5-5 at home. The team sat at a .243 batting average in 23 games, collecting 186 hits, 50 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, and 84 RBI. The Vibes offense has also stolen 26 bags in 33 attempts, drawn 62 walks, and posted a .307/.372/.679 line. The pitching staff had seen vast improvements in July. The team sat at a 4.62 ERA in 200 1/3 innings, allowing 184 hits, 117 runs (103 earned), issuing 88 walks, 221 strikeouts, and team WHIP of 1.35.
This Week's Preview: The Vibes are back in Colorado Springs for a seven-game homestand. The Vibes will finish the seven-game homestand with a four-game series against the Ogden Raptors set to wrap tomorrow. Following that series, the team will have three days off for the All-Star Break before heading out on the road to Montana for a four-game series against the Billings Mustangs followed by a four-game series against the Great Falls Voyagers.
NEXT GAME: Sunday, August 4 @ 1:30 p.m. MT vs. Ogden Raptors @ UCHealth Park
RHP Jeronimo Castro (2-0, 3.66) vs. RHP Michele Vassalotti (3-3, 6.53) - Broadcast: MiLB TuneIn app
PROMOTION: Paint the Park Pink presented by Great Clips benefiting Susan G. Komen, 50 cent hot dog Sunday presented by Parker St. Claire Realty, & Bark in the Park presented by Pet Pantry
RMV TOP PERFORMERS
    Nick Bennett (3.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 SO)
      Bryan Torres (4-for-4, 2 R, RBI, SB)
    Jess Williams (2-for-3, R, RBI, SB)
OGD TOP PERFORMERS
    Brandon Lewis (2-for-4, 2B)
      Hunter Speer (3.1 IP, 3 H, BB, 3 SO)
    Sauryn Lao (1-for-3, BB