(Editor’s note: Mustangs media release)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Billings Mustangs (11-15) had their three-game winning streak snapped on Friday as the Rocky Mountain Vibes (10-16) walked off winners, 3-2, in front of 5,344 at UCHealth Park.
Rocky Mountain took their first lead in over 15 innings in the bottom of the first when Micah Bello delivered a two-run home run to left. It was Bello’s sixth homer of the season, putting the Vibes up 2-0.
The homer represented the first earned runs given up by Nick Lodolo in professional baseball. Lodolo went two innings on Friday, giving up two runs on three hits, not issuing a walk and tying his season-high with five strikeouts.
Matt Lloyd got the Mustangs their first run in the third on an opposite field solo home run to left. It was Lloyd’s fourth home run of the season and cut the deficit to 2-1.
Omar Conoropo threw five shutout innings of relief for Billings, giving up just three hits, not walking a man and striking out four to keep the score at 2-1, Vibes leading, heading to the eighth.
Trailing by one into the eighth, Reniel Ozuna delivered a two-out solo home run for the Mustangs to tie the game at 2-2. It was Ozuna’s fourth homer of the season and his second extra-base hit of the game. He finished 2-for-4 with a double and home run.
The tie lasted into the bottom of the ninth. Bryan Torres was walked aboard with one out, the first walk given up by the Mustangs’ pitching staff. In the next at-bat, a hit-and-run play was put on as Torres took off on the offering to Luis Avalo. Avalo chopped a single through the right side. Not realizing the runner would go home from third after starting the play at first base, Ozuna’s throw from right was delayed and did not reach home in time to prevent the winning run from scoring.
The Vibes rolled six double plays in the win on Friday. It was the most rolled by a Colorado Springs team since 2007 and the most at UCHealth Park since 1993, tying the club record for double plays in a game. It was the fourth instance of it in club history.
The Mustangs and Vibes will face off in the final game of their four-game series Saturday, July 13. It will be the final time Billings will be at UCHealth Park during the 2019 regular season. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. MDT.
