Vibes Walk It Off Over Mustangs in Friday Night Thriller

Colorado Springs, COLORADO - The Rocky Mountain Vibes came out on top in a tremendous Friday night thriller against the Billings Mustangs, winning 3-2 with a walkoff preceding Friday Night Fireworks. Micah Bello delivered an early lead with his second homer in as many nights, before Luis Avalo hit the winning RBI single with one out in the bottom of the ninth for the Vibes' first win of this series and second walkoff of the 2019 campaign.
For the first time in this series against Billings, the Rocky Mountain Vibes found their way onto the board first, in loud fashion in the bottom of the first inning. Antonio Piñero hit a one-out single to get things going, and on the very first pitch of the next at-bat, Bello belted a homer over the left field wall to give the Vibes an early 2-0 lead. Bello hit a team-leading fifth home run last night, followed by a team-leading sixth home run tonight. After hitting his first four homers in the first six games of the season-including a two-homer, five-RBI performance on June 16 in Orem against the Owlz-Bello went 17 games before adding on home runs number five and six, which he did in back-to-back contests.
The Mustangs first run of the game also came by way of home run, in the top of the third inning. With two outs on the board, Matt Lloyd hit a solo shot to make it a one-run affair at 2-1.
Prior to tonight's contest, the Vibes had never executed more than two double plays in any game this season. On Friday, the Vibes collected five twin killings through the first six innings. In the top of the eighth inning, they tacked on double play number six, tying the Pioneer League record of six double plays in a game, set back on 9/3/98 by none other than the Helena Brewers. Unfortunately, in the next at-bat, Reniel Ozuna hit his fourth homer of the season and the third total home run of the game to tie the game at 2-2, will all four runs coming by way of the longball.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, with one out, Bryan Torres drew a walk to put the winning run on first, and in the next at-bat Avalo hit a single to right field to score Torres all the way from first to give the Vibes an exciting, hard-earned 3-2 victory over Billings to put the series at 2-1 Mustangs.
The Rocky Mountain Vibes are in the midst of an eight-game homestand, beginning with a four-game series against the Billings Mustangs set to wrap tomorrow night. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. The game will be available on MiLB.TV as well as on 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 finish their first-ever series against the Billings Mustangs tomorrow with game four of the four-game series. The Vibes are slated to start righty Nick Bennett (0-0, 0.00) in his first start for Rocky Mountain against Billings' right-hander Miguel Medrano (1-0, 2.75). The game will be available on MiLB.TV as well as on the MiLB TuneIn app, with first pitch scheduled for 7:00 p.m. MT.
Double-Double-Double-Double-Double-Double: Prior to Friday night, the Vibes had never executed more than two double plays in any game this season. On Friday, the Vibes collected five twin killings through the first six innings. In the top of the eighth inning, they tacked on double play number six, tying the Pioneer League record of six double plays in a game, set back on 9/3/98 by none other than the Helena Brewers. The six double plays turned by the Vibes equals the club record of six double plays turned during the Colorado Springs Sky Sox era (1988-2018), done three times. Those three instances: April 23rd, 1993 vs. Tacoma Tigers (at Sky Sox Stadium, now UCHealth Park) (Turned in 3rd, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th innings) (Sky Sox won 11-0); June 4th, 1995 vs. Calgary Cannons (at Foothills Stadium in Calgary) (Turned in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th, 8th, and 9th innings) (Sky Sox won 7-2); May 3rd, 2007 vs. Tacoma Rainiers (at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma) (Turned in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th innings) (Sky Sox won 12-1).
Bello Bombs: Micah Bello hit a team-leading fifth home run on Thursday night, followed by a team-leading sixth home run on Friday night. After hitting his first four homers in the first six games of the season-including a two-homer, five-RBI performance on June 16 in Orem against the Owlz-Bello went 17 games before adding on homers number five and six, which he did in back-to-back contests.
Awards Season: Vibes Friday night starter Michele Vassalotti was named Pioneer League Pitcher of the Week for his latest two starts for the Vibes (prior to Friday night) in which he threw 12 innings, giving up seven hits and just one earned run with 11 punchouts, earning him the victory in both starts on July 1st against the Grand Junction Rockies at home and on July 6th against the Raptors in Ogden. Vassalotti was the second Vibes pitcher to receive the honor this season, as Nash Walters garnered Pitcher of the Week honors in the first week of the season. Walters (1-0, 1.31) continues to dominate in 2019. In five starts, including picking up his first win of the season against the Grand Junction Rockies on July 3rd, Walters has maintained a team-leading 1.31 ERA in 20 2/3 innings pitched with just 13 hits allowed and 21 strikeouts.
Familiar Face: When Wuilder Rodriguez, who was assigned to the Vibes roster on a rehab assignment on 7/12, makes his first appearance for the Vibes, Rodriguez will become the first Sky Sox alum to pitch for the Vibes. The Sky Sox had clinched a playoff berth in the 2017 season, and Wuilder Rodriguez was called up from the Single-A Carolina Mudcats for the regular season finale on Labor Day, September 4th, 2017 at Security Service Field (now UCHealth Park) against the Memphis Redbirds. Since the Sky Sox were going to face Memphis in the PCL Playoffs, bringing up Rodriguez for the regular season finale would help set up the Sky Sox pitching rotation for the postseason. (Memphis would win that postseason series in five games.) Wuilder Rodriguez pitched three innings, allowing three hits, two runs, two earned runs, two walks, three strikeouts, and allowing a two-run homer against Memphis first baseman Patrick Wisdom in the third inning, his 31st homer of the season. Rodriguez threw 64 pitches in that game, 37 pitches for strikes. Rodriguez was also 0-for-1 from the plate. Memphis would win that game, 5-4 in 10 innings. Visiting coach for the Vibes Quintin Berry homered in the 10th inning, to cut the deficit to one run, but the Redbirds still prevailed in the regular season finale. The starting pitcher for Memphis that game, Zac Gallen, was traded with Sandy Alcantara, Magnueris Sierra, and Daniel Castano to the Miami Marlins for outfielder Marcell Ozuna on December 14th, 2017. Gallen made his Major League debut with the Marlins several weeks ago on June 20th, 2019, in St. Louis against the Cardinals. Gallen pitched five innings, allowing one run, walking two, and striking out six, getting a no-decision. Marlins won that game, 7-6 in 11 innings. Patrick Wisdom, who homered off Rodriguez, made his Major League debut with the Cardinals on August 12th, 2018 against the Kansas City Royals, going 2-for-4 with a RBI, as the Cardinals won 8-2 at Kauffman Stadium in KC. Wisdom was traded to the Texas Rangers for Drew Robinson on December 11th, 2018. Wisdom is currently with the Nashville Sounds.

Game One Woes: With the loss to Grand Junction last Tuesday night, the loss to Ogden last Thursday night in game one of that series, and now the loss to Billings in game one Wednesday night, the Vibes fall to 1-8 in first games of a series this season.  

History with Billings: With the beginning of a new series between the Rocky Mountain Vibes and the Billings Mustangs, here are a few historical notes. The Billings Mustangs have been a Cincinnati Reds affiliate in the Pioneer League since 1974, one of the longest active affiliations in all of Minor League Baseball. During the Triple-A era of Colorado Springs Sky Sox from 1988-2018, the Sky Sox never faced an opponent that was affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds in a regular season game, even though the teams have met in recent years in Spring Training in Arizona. The last time a Colorado Springs minor league baseball team played in a regular season game against an opponent as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate dates back to September 8th, 1958, when the Sky Sox beat the Albuquerque Dukes, 9-5, at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs. (The Sky Sox won 12 of the 21 games head to head that season against the Dukes, 9-2 in Colorado Springs, while 3-7 at Tingley Field In Albuquerque. That was the only season Cincinnati was an affiliate in the Single-A Western League, during the Sky Sox tenure in that league from 1950-1958.) Over the years, during the Triple-A era of Sky Sox baseball, there were 11 players that played Rookie ball in Billings as a Reds affiliate, then eventually played in Colorado Springs for the Sky Sox. The list: Chris Jones (Outfielder), Billings 1984-1985 & Sky Sox 1993-1994; Marty Brown (Infielder), Billings 1985 & Sky Sox 1991; Reggie Jefferson (Infielder), Billings 1987 & Sky Sox 1991-1992; Ed Taubensee (Catcher), Billings 1987 & Sky Sox 1991; Chris Sexton (Infielder), Billings 1993 & Sky Sox 1997-1999; Pat Watkins (Outfielder), Billings 1993 & Sky Sox 1999; Robert Averette (Pitcher), Billings 1997 & Sky Sox 2001; John Koronka (Pitcher), Billings 1998-1999 & Sky Sox 2008; Paul Janish (Infielder), Billings 2004 & Sky Sox 2014; Josh Roenicke (Pitcher), Billings 2006 & Sky Sox 2011, 2014-2015; Jeremy Horst (Pitcher), Billings 2007 & Sky Sox 2015. Robert Averette is the only one of those 11 players that never played a game in the majors. Also, recently retired Hernan Iribarren joined Billings as their bench coach. Iribarren played in 195 games with the Sky Sox in the 2012-2013 seasons, batting .306, with 3 HR and 72 RBI.

This Week's Preview: The Vibes are home to host the Billings Mustangs and the Great Falls Voyagers for the first time ever for four games apiece. The Billings series is set to wrap on Saturday and the Great Falls series is set to run from Sunday to Wednesday, with the Vibes going back on the road to face Ogden on the 19th.
 
NEXT GAME: Saturday, July 13 @ 7:00 p.m. MT vs. Billings Mustangs @ UCHealth Park
RHP Miguel Medrano (1-0, 2.75) vs. RHP Nick Bennett (0-0, 0.00) - Broadcast: MiLB TuneIn app
PROMOTION: Lion King Night with fireworks presented by UCHealth
RMV TOP PERFORMERS
    Micah Bello (1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R)
      Luis Avalo (2-for-4, Game-Winning RBI)
    Karsen Lindell (4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO)
  
BIL TOP PERFORMERS
    Matt Lloyd (1-for-3, HR, R, RBI)
      Reniel Ozuna (2-for-4, R, 2B, HR, RBI)
   Omar Conoropo (5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO)