Rain Helps Raptors Finish Sweep of Chukars
July 14, 2019 - Pioneer League (PL)
Ogden Raptors News Release
Idaho Falls, ID - After three runaway wins against the Idaho Falls Chukars, the Ogden Raptors finally were challenged in the finale with the team leading North division of the Pioneer League entering the series.
Even so, the Raptors built a lead and appeared to be threatening for more in the top of the sixth.
At that point, the game came to a screeching halt.
A thunderstorm that began during the top of the fifth continued and grew worse, causing the umpires to pull the teams off the field. after about a half-hour of delay, the decision was made to cancel the game. With five full innings in the books, the Raptors were handed a rain-shortened, 3-1 victory.
Each team went in order in the first, but in the second inning Brandon Lewis was hit by a pitch to lead off. Joe Vranesh reached on an infield hit but was erased on a fielder's choice. With two out, Andrew Shaps lined a single to left-center to plate Lewis for the early lead.
In the third, Andy Pages opened with a triple off the right-field wall. Sam McWilliams was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. McWilliams then broke for second and stole the bag as the throw sailed into center field. The errant throw allowed Pages to score and McWilliams to take third, and a throw from the center fielder went out of play so the umpires sent McWilliams across the plate for a 3-0 lead.
Jeronimo Castro pitched well for Ogden, turning in three 1-2-3 innings in his five-inning complete game. He worked around a one-out double in the second but was unable to do the same in the fourth, as a two-out single knocked in Idaho Falls' only run. Castro recorded a strikeout to end that frame, however, and strand the potential tying run on base.
The win, Ogden's sixth in a row, combined with Great Falls' second-straight victory over Grand Junction, dropped the Raptors' magic number for clinching the first-half title to five. Ogden holds a seven-game lead over the Rockies with 11 games to play.
The Raptors start a four-game series at Missoula at 5:15 PM Sunday.
Pioneer League Stories from July 14, 2019
- Arias Leads Owlz Past Chukars - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Bullpen Silences Rockies as Mustangs Win 6-4 - Billings Mustangs
- Owlz Rally Late to Down Chukars - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Osprey Square off in Battle of Two 1st Place Raptors - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Owlz Hang on in Missoula, 3-2 - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Rox Split Series in 7-3 Loss - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Rocky Mountain Vibes Shutout Mustangs to Split Series on Lion King Night - Rocky Mountain Vibes
- Osprey 9th Inning Rally Falls Short; Stay Tied for 1st - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Voyagers Earn Series Split at Grand Junction - Great Falls Voyagers
- Rain Helps Raptors Finish Sweep of Chukars - Ogden Raptors
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