Alex Santana and Ogden Bats Smash Helena
August 21, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Ogden Raptors News Release
OGDEN - The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Alex Santana in the second round four years ago. He didn't expect his career trajectory to bring him back to the same place he was two years ago - in Ogden, Utah.
But the Dodgers' high prospect, the son of a World Series champion, continues to chase the aspiration of literally filling his father's shoes in the big leagues. At Lindquist Field on Thursday night, Santana went 4-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI, leading Ogden (12-8, 31-27) to a 13-8 win over Helena (4-16, 20-36) - the Raptors eleventh win in fourteen games since the All-Star break.
Santana was hitting just .205 in eleven games in Ogden before making a needed adjustment at the plate.
"I just got my hands back a little further, got my body in sync more," he said.
It paid off handsomely.
The slugger more than doubled his RBI total for the season and became the first Ogden Raptor with a multi-home run game this season. His first home run was a three-run line drive that left the ballpark in a hurry in the first inning, just clearing the left field wall at a distance of 379 feet.
"I didn't think it was out at all," Santana said. "I was running hard out of the box and when I heard the fans cheer I kind of knew."
Santana added an RBI triple down the left field line one inning later, and hit his second home run leading off the bottom of the fourth - a 403-foot solo shot to left-centerfield.
"I got that one pretty good," he admitted. "That one probably would have been a home run anywhere."
Santana picked up his sixth run batted in on an RBI single in the fifth inning and needed just a double to hit for the cycle. But, Ogden started pumping the brakes offensively, and Santana only had one more at-bat the rest of the game, a flyout to right field in the seventh.
The Raptors scored all 13 runs in the first five innings. Aside from Santana's six RBI, Matt Jones unloaded the bases with a two-out, three-run double in the second inning, ahead of Santana's triple. Gage Green hit a two-run triple as part of a three-run third inning. Following Santana's second home run in the fourth and RBI single in the fifth, Edwin Rios, playing in his first game since suffering a hamstring injury on July 27, followed with an RBI single to make it a 13-2 ballgame. Ogden sent 22 batters to the plate in the first three innings, but just 13 batters to the plate in the last three.
Jairo Pacheco (5-3) got the victory, allowing five runs in 5 2/3 innings. The last three runs came off the bat of Troy Stokes, Jr. in the sixth inning, his fifth home run of the season. Shea Spitzbarth threw two innings of relief, spelled by Wes Helsabeck in the eighth inning after walking two batters and giving up a two-run single to Jonathan Oquendo that trimmed the lead to 13-7.
Helsabeck walked two batters before recording the final out in the eighth. In the top of the ninth inning, Helsabeck loaded the bases with two singles and a walk, and ended a season-long 13-inning scoreless streak when he walked Oquendo on a full-count pitch with the bases loaded.
Marcus Crescentini (3) came in to record a save for the second night in a row, striking out Carlos Belonis with the bases loaded - his tenth strikeout in his last 4 1/3 innings pitched.
Orem avoided a sweep at Missoula and Idaho Falls rallied for three runs in the eighth, one in the ninth, and walked off Billings in the tenth to stay three games ahead of Ogden in the second-half of the South Division.
Friday is the final off day of the regular season before the Raptors begin a four-game series at Ogden on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15pm MT with Adam Bray (0-1, 3.32) facing Grayson Long (0-0, 2.40).
Pioneer League Stories from August 21, 2015
- Brewers Win Series Opener 8-1 over GF - Helena Brewers
- Voyagers Game Notes: August 21 at Helena - Great Falls Voyagers
- Alex Santana and Ogden Bats Smash Helena - Ogden Raptors
- Chukars Edge Mustangs in 10 - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Owlz Avoid Sweep in Game 4 Victory - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Orem Takes Finale of Series - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Raptors Bats Explode for 13-8 Win - Helena Brewers
- Early Lead Disappers in Great Falls - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Three Homers Lead Voyagers to Series Victory - Great Falls Voyagers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
