All-Around Effort Secures First Win of Second Half
Published on July 27, 2018 under Pioneer League (PL)
Ogden Raptors News Release
OGDEN, UT - From the looks of the first three batters in the top of the first, the Ogden Raptors appeared to be in for a long night.
The Grand Junction Rockies loaded the bases against Raptors starter Joel Inoa, but Inoa escaped the inning with just one run across and Ogden came through with two late home runs, including a grand slam, to take game two of three against the Rockies, 8-1.
Inoa struggled in the first, giving up a first-pitch base hit to the leadoff man, hitting the second batter and walking the third, before a strike out for the first out. A fielder's choice recorded out number two but scored the first run of the game, and then a ground out ended the frame and stranded two.
After that, Inoa faced just one batter over the minimum and turned in the longest outing by a Raptors starter this year, pitching into the seventh inning while allowing just three more batters to reach safely.
By the time he exited, the Raptors had a one-run lead. They tied the game in the third when Daniel Robinson walked and moved to second on a passed ball, then scored on a Dillon Paulson single.
In the sixth, Ronny Brito led off with a double to right-center. He was on third with one out as Niko Hulsizer dumped a hit into left. Brito scored easily as the go-ahead run.
In the seventh, Chris Roller singled to open the inning. After a pair of strikeouts, Paulson hammered a shot to right for his team-leading seventh homer of the year and a 4-1 lead.
One swing in the eighth doubled Ogden's output. James Outman singled with one out, Hulsizer was hit by a pitch and Ramon Rodriguez walked to load the bases. With two down, Jacob Amaya got ahold of a 1-2 pitch and launched it to left - his second homer of the year and the second grand slam of the campaign for the Raptors.
Amaya also turned in a spectacular defensive play behind Inoa. With one out in the sixth, Coco Montes, the Pioneer League's leading hitter, grounded into the hole between third and short. Amaya ranged over, backhanded the ball and fired to first while falling away toward the left-field line. His throw bounced once and was taken in by Paulson just before Montes hit the bag.
Inoa finished with six and two-third innings pitched, three hits and two walks with four strikeouts, to earn his fourth win of the season. Hunter Speer entered for the final out of the seventh, pitched a perfect eighth and worked around a walk and single in the ninth to complete his second save.
The win sets up a rubber match with Grand Junction on Friday night at 7:00. It will be both a Free Tee Friday, with the first 300 fans receiving a free Raptors T-shirt, and Golden Spike Night, where the Raptors will be wearing special jerseys depicting the picture of the two railroads meeting at Promontory Point in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the driving of the Golden Spike. The Jerseys will be sold to fans during the game and proceeds will benefit the Union Station Foundation.
Pioneer League Stories from July 27, 2018
- Friday's Game Postponed Due to Rain - Billings Mustangs
- Osprey and Mustangs Postponed Friday Due to Field Conditions and Rain - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Friday's Game Postponed Due to Rain - Billings Mustangs
- Osprey and Mustangs Play Game Two of Series Friday - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Osprey Alum Perez Reaches the Majors - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Brewers' Three-Run 8th Sinks Voyagers - Great Falls Voyagers
- All-Around Effort Secures First Win of Second Half - Ogden Raptors
- Fry's Big Night Vaults Brewers to Series Opening Win - Helena Brewers
- Raptors Top Rox 8-1 - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Bautista's Grand Slam Powers 4-1 Win over Osprey - Billings Mustangs
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.
