PL Ogden Raptors

Win Streak Ends at 12 as Offense Sputters

Published on July 21, 2019 under Pioneer League (PL)
Ogden Raptors News Release


OGDEN, UT - Over the 12 games the Ogden Raptors played from July 7 through July 20, their offense scored over 10 runs per game.

That pace of scoring wasn't expected to continue - especially after picking up eight runs on just six hits on Saturday - but it also wasn't expected to completely dry up in a single game.

Unfortunately for Ogden's franchise-best winning streak going back to at least 2005, it did.

The Raptors mustered only one run on five hits against the visiting Rocky Mountain Vibes and suffered defeat, 2-1, for the first time since July 6 - also against the Vibes at Lindquist Field.

The loss dropped Ogden to 27-7 on the season and ended their 12-game winning streak. Four games remain in the first half, and the Raptors must win all four to tie the best single-half record for any team in Pioneer League history. Three wins will break the league mark for best record in a first half, since the circuit went to a two-half season in 1995.

Neither team scored in the first two innings, though Ogden threatened in the second as Marco Hernandez tripled with one out. A strikeout and runner caught stealing after a walk squandered that opportunity, however.

In the third, Raptors starter Alfredo Tavarez struck out the first hitter, his fifth strikeout of the game. The next batter singled to center, and a flare to right fell to put two on. A pop out brought Tavarez within an out of a scoreless frame, but a line drive up the middle loaded the bases. Finally, the Rocky Mountain cleanup hitter lifted a soft line drive into right-center to plate two runs.

Ogden promptly cut the Vibes' lead in half in the bottom of the third, as Ramon Rodriguez doubled to lead off, advanced to third base on a deep fly out and scored on a sacrifice fly from Sam McWilliams.

From that point on, the Raptors put four runners on first base throughout the rest of the game but didn't get any into scoring position.

Tavarez, who took the loss despite a five-inning, seven-strikeout start, was helped by his defense in the fifth. He gave up a leadoff double and then a single, putting runners at the corners with no one out. A ground ball to third base was thrown to second by Brandon Lewis, and Jeremy Arocho - rather than throwing to first - fired back to third to catch the runner straying off the bag for a unique 5-4-5 double play.

The Raptors remain home to host the Grand Junction Rockies for three games starting Monday at 7 PM at Lindquist Field. It's another Mini-Monday, with the first 500 fans through the gates receiving a mini bobblehead doll of former Raptors pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.

Check out the Ogden Raptors Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pioneer League Stories from July 21, 2019


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.

OurSports Central