Helton's RBI Ends First Half on a Rockie Note for Owlz
July 31, 2010 - Pioneer League (PL)
Northern Colorado Owlz News Release
The Owlz dropped the last game of the first half of the season Friday night with 2-1 loss despite out-hitting the Casper Ghosts 9-3.
On a night when legendary Rockies first baseman, Todd Helton, was in the lineup as the DH while rehabbing, the Ghosts picked up the win behind a sacrifice fly by Helton in the bottom of the 8th inning.
The Owlz got behind early, as the Ghosts picked up a run in the bottom of the first inning on a fielder's choice to Rolando Gomez. It looked like the Owlz were going to get out of it on the play, because it appeared to be a perfect ground ball for an inning-ending double play. However, instead of tossing the ball to second baseman, Jesus Campos, Gomez who was still significantly off the bag decided to run over and take it himself. Doing so, left Brett Tanos with enough time to slide hard into second base causing a low, late throw from Gomez and the batter beat out the throw to first base.
The game stayed 1-0 despite several threats that the Owlz mounted until one finally paid off in the top of the sixth inning. After it looked like the Owlz were going to blow another chance to bring in runners from scoring position with less than two outs, Gomez came through with a two out, bases loaded single to tie the game.
The Owlz bullpen shut down the Ghost lineup until the bottom of the 8th inning when Rafael Ortega led off the inning with a double off of Dakota Robinson. After a sacrifice bunt moved Ortega over to third, the stage was set for the man of the night, Todd Helton, who strolled to the plate to a standing ovation. Helton promptly hit a towering fly ball to left-centerfield. Andrew Heid was able to make the catch just shy of the warning track but the fly ball was plenty deep enough to get the run home from third base.
That would prove to be enough as the Owlz went 1-2-3 in the top of the 9th inning.
The story of the night was Helton's rehab in Casper. Helton had played 69 games this season in Denver for the Rockies, but he struggled due to a sore back. Finally, a hamstring injury pushed him to the Disabled List. The Owlz highlight of the night came in the bottom of the third inning when Carmine Giardina came in to the game in relief of Aaron Meade and had to face Helton as the first batter of his outing. Giardina filled the count before throwing a high fastball by Helton, striking him out and giving Giardina a story to tell for the rest of his life.
Helton ultimately went 0-for-2 on the evening with a walk and the sacrifice fly in the 8th. Giardina retired Helton with the strikeout in the 3rd and a fly out to left field in the 6th.
Helton spent some time around the batting cage on Friday night teaching and talking to some of the Ghost players.
"They're talking about bus rides and I told them 'we've all been there, it gets better as you move up. If you play well, all the accommodations get a little bit better,'" Helton said. This would certainly ring true for the Owlz who hopped on the bus for an 8 and a half, over-the-night bus ride to Idaho Falls where they will begin the second half of the season on Saturday night at 7:05.
Pioneer League Stories from July 31, 2010
- Osprey 2nd half opener rained out vs. Voyagers - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Helton's RBI Ends First Half on a Rockie Note for Owlz - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Ghosts Welcome 500,000 Fan/Set Single Game Record in One Night - Casper Ghosts
- Osprey Score 10 in 6th to Beat Mustangs, 13-5 - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Shutout Win Gives I.F. Two-Game Sweep - Idaho Falls Chukars
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