Chukars Sweep Raptors 4-1
August 2, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Ogden Raptors News Release
OGDEN - An outstanding pitching performance by Idaho Falls (5-1, 18-26) gave the Chukars a 4-1 win over Ogden (1-5, 20-24) on Sunday afternoon. The Raptors take a four-game losing streak into the All-Star break.
"We are struggling right now - not playing our greatest baseball," said Raptors manager John Shoemaker.
Derek Gordon (1-2) surrendered a leadoff single to Gage Green in the bottom of the first inning and subsequently retired 17 straight outs before the Raptors recorded their next hit. Chris Godinez doubled and scored on Nick Sell's RBI single in the sixth inning for Ogden's lone run of the ballgame. Those three hits were the only ones Gordon allowed in six innings. Josh Staumont then pitched two innings of scoreless relief, with his pitch speed topping out at 101 MPH. Drew Milligan (1) locked the door in the ninth inning for his first save.
The Ogden pitching staff only allowed four runs, which would be good enough to win most games in the Pioneer League. But not this one. Marten Gasparini tripled in the second inning and scored when Nick Dini got the green light on a 3-0 pitch and launched it over the left-centerfield wall to put Idaho Falls ahead 2-0. The Chukars' other two runs came on a passed ball in the fifth inning and a sacrifice fly in the seventh after DJ Burt tripled.
Ogden drops to 1-5 in the second half of the Pioneer League season - the exact same record the Raptors had six games into the start of the first half, also after a loss at home to Idaho Falls.
The league schedule grinds to a halt for the next three days for the inaugural Northwest League vs Pioneer League All-Star game. Shoemaker appreciates the timing of the break.
"I think it's good. We're on a losing streak right now," he said. "Sure you want to play to break the streak, but sometimes it just takes a rain out, it just takes an off day, it just takes an All-Star break to give you a little bit of a new perspective on things."
Ogden has had 53 roster moves to date this season, most recently adding Dutch pitcher Misja Harcksen who made his Raptors debut on Sunday. Idaho Falls has the next-most roster moves in the Pioneer League with 22. Shoemaker admits the constant turnover is taking its toll on his club.
"We've had so many different player moves this year that I think right now a lot of guys are beginning to think about what's going to happen next instead of just worrying about what's going to happen at the game," he said.
Matt Jones and Nick Sell will represent Ogden on the Pioneer League All-Star team on Tuesday night in Spokane, Washington. Sell was named a starting outfielder for the game. Willie Calhoun was previously named the starting second baseman for the Pioneer League, but will not participate after being promoted to Great Lakes on Friday. Nick Dean was also recognized as a Pioneer League All-Star after receiving the most fan votes. He has also been called up to Great Lakes and will not participate.
The All-Star game begins Tuesday night at 7:30pm MT. A radio broadcast will originate from SportsRadio 1510 KGA in Spokane with the Spokane Indians' Mike Boyle and the Billings Mustangs' Kyle Riley behind the mic. The live audio stream can be found on 1510KGA.com. Additionally, SWX TV will televise the game which will stream live on MiLB.tv and be shown tape-delayed locally on ROOT Sports Rocky Mountain on Thursday, August 6 at 7:00pm MT.
The Raptors will be in action again on Thursday at Billings with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm MT.
"We just have to go out and play," Shoemaker said. "I don't think anybody has any magic potions, we just have to go play."
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Pioneer League Stories from August 2, 2015
- Osprey Suffer First Shutout - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Chukars Sweep Raptors 4-1 - Ogden Raptors
- Sanger's Double Sinks Rockies - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Chukars Jump out Early, Cruise to Win - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Brewers Snap Four-Game Losing Streak - Helena Brewers
- Great Falls Rally Falls Short in Matinee - Great Falls Voyagers
- Yefrey Ramirez Added to Pioneer League All-Star Team - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Voyagers Game Notes: August 2 vs. Helena - Great Falls Voyagers
- Chukars beat the Ogden Raptors - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Early Lead Paces Owlz over Rockies - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Idaho Falls Beats Ogden in Eleven Innings - Ogden Raptors
- Three Homers Sink Osprey; Billings 4, Missoula 2 - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Eighth Inning Again The Difference For Voyagers - Great Falls Voyagers
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