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Owlz Rally Falls Short

Verrier Smacks Homer in Loss
August 26, 2019

(Orem, UT) - The Orem Owlz (25-39) came from seven down to cut the Grand Junction Rockies (30-33) one run before ultimately losing the series opener 14-11 on Monday night at the Home of the Owlz.

(Orem, UT) - The Orem Owlz (25-39) came from seven down to cut the Grand Junction Rockies (30-33) one run before ultimately losing the series opener 14-11 on Monday night at the Home of the Owlz.

Grand Junction jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Julio Carreras walked and then moved to third on a Ezequil Tovar single. After Tovar was caught stealing, Carreras scored on a wild pitch to give the Rockies a 1-0 lead. Colin Simpson then blasted a ball off the scoreboard in the right field, extending the Rockies' lead to 2-0.
The Owlz matched the Rockies and scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. D'Shawn Knowles and Jose Verrier drew back-to-back walks to open the inning. Caleb Scires then doubled in Knowles, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Johan Sala then tied the game by dropping a single into right.
Jose Verrier gave the Owlz the lead in the second inning. Anthony Mulrine started the frame with a ground ball single to center. With two outs in the inning, Verrier smashed a homer to left, his 11th of the season, giving the Owlz a 4-2 lead.
The Owlz lead didn't last long as the Rockies tied the game in the fourth inning. Ronaiker Palma singled with one out and then scored when Carreras homered to left, tying the game at four.
Grand Junction opened the game up in the fifth inning, batting 11 times in the inning. The Rockies scored seven runs in the inning on five hits and three Owlz errors, opening up an 11-4 lead.
The Owlz cut into the deficit in the next half inning, scoring five runs. David Clawson started the inning with a single and then moved to second on a Brandon White single. After a one out walk loaded the bases, Drevian Williams-Nelson singled in the first run of the inning. D'Shawn Knowles followed with a single, driving in White. Joser Verrier drove in his third run of the game with a bases loaded walk. After a strikeout, Johan Sala singled in a pair, cutting the Rockies' advantage to 11-9.
Brandon White pulled the Owlz to within a run in the seventh inning with a single scoring Scires, making it a 11-10 game.
Grand Junction padded their lead in the eighth inning. The Rockies loaded the bases with one out in the inning before Bladimir Restituyo singled in a run to extend the Rockies' lead to 12-10. Grand Junction added two more runs in the inning on a Todd Isaacs sacrifice fly and a Palma RBI single, taking a 14-10 lead.
The Owlz scored a run in the ninth on a Rockies error but would get no closer, losing the series opener, 14-11. Cayden Hatcher (3-3) earned the win while Jose Natera (1-3) was charged with the loss. The Owlz and the Rockies will continue the series on Tuesday night at 6:35.