Late Rally Falls Short in Orem
June 29, 2016 - Pioneer League (PL)
Grand Junction Jackalopes News Release
Monday night at Brent Brown Ballpark, the Grand Junction Rockies trailed the Orem Owlz 6-2 going to the ninth inning, but they rallied and put the tying run on base only to fall short 6-5.
Tyler Bugner doubled home a pair to bring the Rockies within two, and with two out, Manny Melendez singled him home, for his third hit of the night, to make it 6-5, but Ramon Rodriguez struck out Pedro Gonzalez to end the game.
The loss drops the Rockies to 6-5 on the season, they are now 2-games back of Orem, winners of five in a row, for first place in the South.
The Rockies took the lead in the first inning when Colton Welker singled home Manny Melendez, but that would be all the offense the Rockies could muster, and the Owlz took advantage.
They tied the game with a run in the bottom of the inning, and Nick Flair broke the tie with a 2-run homer in the second. Troy Montgomery brought home the inning's third run. In the third inning, Michael Barash made it 5-1 with an RBI double.
After giving the first inning run, Owlz starter Sam Pastrone sailed through the rest of his outing. He gave up a leadoff single to Vince Fernandez in the second, but Brian Serven followed by grounding into a double play, and Pastrone finished his night by retiring the final 10 Rockies he faced, and he earned the win on his 19th birthday.
Greg Belton replaced Pastrone and kept the Rockies bats quiet for two innings, but the Rockies showed signs of life in the eighth. They loaded the bases against Alex Henson and Jose Gomez worked a bases loaded walk to make it 6-2, but Colton Welker followed by grounding out to the pitcher to end the threat and keep it a 4-run game.
Grand Junction managed just seven hits, as Bugner joined Melendez as the only Rockie with more than one.
Brennon Lund paced the Owlz with four hits, he is now 10-for-13 against Rockies pitching this season.
Ty Culbreth took the loss in his professional debut, allowing four runs in two innings. The Rockies bullpen limited Orem to two runs over the game's final six innings as the Owlz went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10.
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Pioneer League Stories from June 29, 2016
- Owlz and Rockies Postponed - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Pint to Debut Friday at Melaleuca Field - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Raptors Walk-Off Chukars for Comeback Win - Ogden Raptors
- Owlz Hold on for 6-5 Win - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Voyagers Use Long Ball to Level Series with Billings - Great Falls Voyagers
- Late Rally Falls Short in Orem - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Osprey Edged in Helena, 4-2 - Missoula PaddleHeads
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