Owlz Open Second Half in Quiet Loss
July 29, 2016 - Pioneer League (PL)
Northern Colorado Owlz News Release
Despite 13 strikeouts from the pitching staff, the Owlz dropped a one-run game to the Raptors 3-2. The game opened the second half of the season after the Owlz clinched the first half on Wednesday night.
Orem would open the scoring in the second inning thanks to a sacrifice fly from Keith Grieshaber that scored Brennan Morgan. The throw from DJ Peters was just a hair late, as Morgan reached standing up. It would set the scene for the biggest play of the game later.
Starter Travis Herrin was particularly sharp through his first four innings only allowing three hits and retiring the side in order twice. In the fifth, he allowed back-to-back homers with one out to give the Raptors their first lead of the game. Little did they know, the two swings from Jared Walker (a two-run homer) and Brandon Montgomery (a solo homer) would be their entire offense.
While the Owlz offense stalled against the Raptors bullpen of Jorge Gonzalez and Andrew Istler, Orem's bullpen rose to the occasion. Ariel Ovando was first, working the sixth and seventh innings. Of the seven batters he faced, he struck out five of them-the only baserunner was a double by Gersel Pitre.
Samil De Los Santos would work the eighth and allow a leadoff double to DJ Peters, but then accomplish a rare feat: he struck out the next for batters in a row. Ibandel Isabel struck out swinging, but then Keibert Ruiz reached when he swung and missed on a breaking ball in the dirt that got to the backstop. Samil would recover and strike out Errol Robinson and Pitre to end the inning.
In the top of the eighth, Ryan Scott led off with a walk, and made it to third on an error by Montgomery at second that came off the bat of Juan Moreno. The Owlz had runners on second and third with no outs and the top of the order. L.J. Kalawaia would add an RBI groundout to the right side to bring in Scott and move Moreno to third.
Jose Rojas was next and he hit a fly ball to center, Peters caught the ball and fired home to try and nab Moreno tagging up. The throw took two hops and was on target and in time to retire Moreno and the side on the double play.
Zach Gibbons led off the ninth with a single, but the Owlz couldn't manage a comeback against Istler, and dropped the opener of the half. Next the Owlz head back up to Lindquist Field for a 7:00 PM matchup with the Raptors.
Pioneer League Stories from July 29, 2016
- Long Ball Hurts Grey, Osprey; Helena 8, Missoula 4 - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Owlz Open Second Half in Quiet Loss - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Raptors Slash Owlz with 3 Runs, Despite Excessive Heat - Ogden Raptors
- Rockies Fall in Second Half Opener - Grand Junction Jackalopes
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