Late Rallies Fall Short in Loss
August 1, 2018 - Pioneer League (PL)
Ogden Raptors News Release
Grand Junction, CO - For the third straight day, the Ogden Raptors allowed their opponent to put up a crooked number in the first inning but kept fighting until the end.
Unlike the previous two games, however, the Raptors were unable to hold on for a comeback win.
The Grand Junction Rockies scored three in the first and five in the second, and those runs held up for an 8-7 victory over Ogden on Tuesday at Suplizio Field.
The Raptors took the lead in the first, as Jacob Amaya singled to right center, was doubled to third by Matt Cogen and scored on a Ronny Brito sacrifice fly.
In the bottom of the first, the Rockies answered with two solo home runs, a walk and a run-scoring triple.
Ogden immediately came back and took the lead. Niko Hulsizer and Jon Littell took consecutive walks to open the second, and with one out Jefrey Souffront beat out an infield hit and saw the throw go awry to score Hulsizer. Two batters later, Cogen launched his team-leading eighth home run of the year, a three-run blast to right-center, to give the visitors a 5-3 advantage.
The lead was short-lived, as Grand Junction put their first five batters on base via a walk, two singles, an error and a home run, in the home half of the second. All five scored, putting the Rockies back on top at 8-5.
After two days of heavy bullpen usage, the last thing Ogden wanted was an early deficit. Joel Inoa settled down after the first two rough innings, though, and pitched scoreless ball in the third and fourth. Elio Serrano, Evy Ruibal and Orlandy Navarro shouldered the load the rest of the way to give the Raptors potent offense a chance to come back.
That comeback almost happened. After four innings of scoreless ball for each side, Ogden loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. With a reliever in the game, Cogen grounded sharply toward left field, but Grand Junction shortstop Cristopher Navarro stopped it with a dive and flipped to second for one out. The fielder's choice scored a run to make it 8-6, but after Miguel Vargas walked Ronny Brito hit into a double play to end the inning with no further damage.
The Raptors went quietly in the eighth, but Daniel Robinson led off the ninth with a pinch-hit infield single, plus a throwing error moving him to second. After a pair of strikeouts, Cogen knocked in his fifth run of the game with a single to center and was on first as the potential tying run. Vargas, though, saw his bloop to left caught on the run to end the game.
The Raptors and Rockies have each won one game in the series, so they will play the rubber match of the three-game set Wednesday at 6:40 PM.
Pioneer League Stories from August 1, 2018
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- Idaho Falls Lights up Orem at Plate in 15-11 Win - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Late Rallies Fall Short in Loss - Ogden Raptors
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