Sell Powers Raptors Past Mustangs
Published on August 7, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Ogden Raptors News Release
BILLINGS - Nick Sell could sense his Ogden Raptor teammates were hungry to end their four-game losing streak. The leftfielder did his best to make sure that streak stopped in its tracks in the first game following the all-star break.
"I think coming off of a four-game streak like we did, it was good to get some momentum back and get everybody back on track with what we've been doing the majority of the year," Sell said. "Trying to stay consistent as a team has been one of the priorities."
Sell, after going 0-2 in the Pioneer/Northwest League All-Star Game in Spokane, Wash., on Tuesday, went 3-for-4 with two triples, while driving in four, as the Raptors (2-5, 21-25) won 8-3 over the Billings Mustangs (4-3, 21-23) Thursday night. Scott De Jong, Logan Landon, and Matt Jones each had an RBI to help Ogden win for the first time in over a week.
Michael Boyle started for Ogden, and did not give up a run in three innings. Before he could go out to start the fourth inning, Mother Nature ended his night. A 56-minute rain delay spelled the end for Boyle, and his counterpart for Billings, Franderlyn Romero.
Before the rain came, the Raptors jumped out to a 2-0 lead on an RBI single from Sell and an RBI double from Landon in the third and fourth innings, respectively. Landon was making his first appearance for Ogden since June 25th, after he was transferred from the Arizona League Dodgers on Thursday afternoon. The centerfielder missed over a month while recovering from a dislocated shoulder.
After the rain delay, MJ Villegas (2-0) gave up two runs (one earned) in the bottom of the fourth. Wet field conditions led to poor footing, directly impacting errors made by Kelvin Ramos and Chris Godinez to lead to the unearned run. Brantley Bell had the big hit of the inning for the Mustangs, driving in the 11th overall pick in June's draft, Tyler Stephenson, with a double to tie the ballgame at two.
Ogden quickly regained the lead in the fifth. After Gage Green led off with a single, Sell hit his first triple of the night, scoring Green. Jones then drove Sell in on a fielder's choice. The Raptors added four in the sixth to extend their lead, with Sell hitting a second triple, this one scoring Green and De Jong. Sell's two triples give him six for the year, extending his team lead and moving him into a tie for second with Grand Junction's Sam Hilliard on the Pioneer League leaderboard in triples.
Ryan Scott, in his first game back with Ogden after being transferred back to the Raptors from Great Lakes, went 2-5 with a triple and two runs scored, the latter on a passed ball by Stephenson.
Bernardo Reyes and Clint Freeman combined for three scoreless innings of work. The Raptors led 8-2 going into the 9th inning, the same score they led by July 31st at Idaho Falls, when the Chukars rallied for seven runs in the inning to defeat the Raptors 9-8, but Andrew Istler closed the game allowing only a single run.
The win was Ogden's first since July 29, a 14-8 victory over Grand Junction.
Ogden plays game two of their seven-game Montana road swing, with a 7:05 tilt Friday night at Dehler Park. Ivan Vieitez (0-2, 6.07) starts for Ogden, while Tanner Rainey (1-0, 5.00) starts for Billings.
Pioneer League Stories from August 7, 2015
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- Voyagers Even the Series with 5-3 Win - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Easterling Shines As Voyagers Even Set With Owlz - Great Falls Voyagers
- Bad Start Leads to Fifth Straight Loss - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Voyagers Game Notes: August 7 at Orem - Great Falls Voyagers
- Sell Powers Raptors Past Mustangs - Ogden Raptors
- Six Run Ninth Sends Rockies to Fourth Straight Loss - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Owlz Thump Voyagers 12-4 - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Chukars Win Their 6th Straight - Helena Brewers
- Six-Run Ninth Hands Missoula Victory - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Chukars Grab First-Inning Lead, Cruise to Win - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Voyagers Routed by Owlz in Trip Opener - Great Falls Voyagers
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