Bats Awaken to Bash Billings

The Ogden Raptors bats had been quietly efficient for three weeks, scoring enough to win most games but not obliterating the opponent as they did so many times early in the season.
That changed Saturday night, as the Raptors broke out for a 15-6 victory over the Billings Mustangs in the second game of a set of three between the two teams. Combined with Friday's 2-1 win, Ogden has a chance to sweep the series on Sunday.
The Raptors' win was the first time since July 20 that they won a game in which they scored double-digit runs (a loss to Great Falls, 15-10, on August 7 had been the only 10-plus run outbreak for Ogden since then). The July 20 11-7 win over Missoula kicked off an eight-game winning streak. The hosts' 15 runs came on 19 hits, tying the team's best for a single game this season.
Rylan Bannon did the most damage, tying the team's single-game best for a player with four hits. He had three singles and launched a solo home run in the seventh in six at-bats.
In fact, everyone who batted for the Raptors had at least one hit in the game. Tyler Adkison added three walks to two doubles, scoring three times and driving in two, and Garrett Hope and Mitchell Hansen compiled three RBI apiece.
Bannon got a rally started in the first inning with a two out hit. He stole second and scored on a Luis Paz single to right to get the Raptors on the board.
Billings tied the game on a triple and single in the second, but another two-out, bases-empty string of hits gave the Raptors the lead back for good in the home half. Brayan Morales led off by taking a walk and stealing second. Hansen then crushed a line drive off the base of the wall in center field as Morales trotted home, and Bannon beat out an infield single as Hansen crossed the plate.
The Mustangs pulled within one on three hits in the third, but Adalberto Peña got out of the inning with a strikeout and pop out and finished four innings with only two runs allowed and six strikeouts.
The bottom of the third saw Ogden bust out for four runs. Adkison drew a leadoff walk, and with one out Gersel Pitre singled to right. Samuel Ortiz knocked a single up the middle to load the bases, and Morales drove in two with a single to right. Hansen scored Ortiz and Morales with a double down the left field line for a 7-2 lead.
Hope made it 9-2 in the fourth when his single to right field scored Romer Cuadrado and Adkison, and after Billings scored in the fifth Adkison's second double of the night brought in two more in the bottom half.
Three unearned runs in the top of the sixth brought the Mustangs closer, but the Raptors scored three runs after Bannon's round tripper in the seventh as Hope singled in a run and Pitre doubled in two.
Conor Costello earned his second save, pitching the final three innings of the blowout with four strikeouts and no runs allowed.
The series finale between Ogden and Billings is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 4. It's another Aloha Sunday - wear your favorite Hawaiian shirt and the players will wear Hawaiian-themed jerseys on the field. In addition, kids under 12 get in free.