PL Ogden Raptors

Raptors Take League Record in Pitcher's Duel

Published on July 25, 2019 under Pioneer League (PL)
Ogden Raptors News Release


OGDEN, UT - It wasn't quite a clean slate, but the Ogden Raptors still held off the Grand Junction Rockies to finish a sweep on the penultimate day of the Pioneer League first half, 3-1.

Ogden's victory was their 30th of the season, setting the league record for most wins in a first half since the two-half schedule was instituted in 1995. If the Raptors take Thursday's game to end the first half at 31-7, they'll tie the mark for best record in any half.

In a pitcher's duel that lasted just two hours, 13 minutes, the Raptors shut down Grand Junction's offense and made the most of their chances at the plate.

After the Rockies set down Ogden's first eight hitters of the game, Brandon Wulff broke through with a homer to right-center in an 0-2 count in the bottom of the third.

In the fourth, Sauryn Lao coaxed a two-out walk in front of Jon Littell, who hit a laser over the left-field wall for a 3-0 lead.

The Raptors got only two more hits - three more baserunners - throughout the game. Wulff tripled with two out in the third and was hit by a pitch leading off the eighth, and Brandon Lewis scorched a double in the sixth.

None of those runs scored, but with the way the pitching staff was cruising they had all they needed.

Jeronimo Castro got the start and allowed one baserunner in each of the first two innings while striking out three each frame. He worked a perfect third frame with one strikeout, then got into trouble in the fourth by walking two batters. However, the third hitter, trying to bunt with two strikes, missed and struck out while the lead runner strayed too far from second base. Ramon Rodriguez threw down to second and Jeremy Arocho fired to third to catch him stealing for the second out, allowing Castro to calm down and dispose of the next batter on three pitches to end the inning.

With his pitch count rising, Castro struck out his 10th batter of the game to start the fifth. He induced a groundout for the second out, and a tapper back to the mound appeared to be enough to get him through the inning, but he airmailed first base to allow the runner to reach on the error. At that point he hit his pitch limit and had to be removed one out short of qualifying for the win, but his 10 strikeouts are the most for any Raptors pitcher in a single game this year.

Edward Cuello came in from the bullpen and recorded the last out of the fifth before pitching perfect ball in the sixth and seventh. Mark Mixon hit a batter in the eighth, but with two out Ryan Ward made a sliding catch to end the frame.

In the ninth, Hunter Speer got ahead of the leadoff man before giving up a home run, the second hit and first run of the game for the visitors. After that blast, Speer's defense helped as Ward made a running catch on the warning track and Lao caught a pop up over his shoulder in foul territory down the left field line. A groundout to first ended the game to secure Speer's third save of the season.

Ogden heads to Orem Thursday night at 7:05 to close out the first half. The second half begins Friday with the Owlz visiting Lindquist Field. That will be another Free T Friday, with the first 300 fans through the gates receiving a free Raptors T-shirt!

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Pioneer League Stories from July 25, 2019


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