GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Chad Zurat pitched four shutout innings against the Orem (Utah) Owlz in his second start for the Grand Junction Rockies Tuesday night, but the former Clearfield Area High School and Clearfield American Legion Post 6 hurler was not involved in the decision.
The right-hander turned a 5-0 lead over to the bullpen, only to watch the Owlz tie the game before two-run home runs by Roberto Ramos and Chris Keck in the eighth inning gave the Rockies a 9-7 victory in front of 1,723 fans at Sam Suplizio Field.
Grand Junction gained a share of first place in the Class A Short-Season Pioneer League’s South Division by snapping Orem’s four-game winning streak. Both teams are 4-2.
Zurat allowed three hits, had one strikeout and picked off one runner.
With the Rockies turning a double play, he faced only 13 batters, one over the minimum.
Four relievers surrendered the seven runs on five hits, two walks and three hit batsmen.
Zurat (1-0) still boasts a 0.00 earned run average for nine innings of work. He’s given up 13 hits and four runs while striking out three.