Four-Run Rockies Eighth Ends Raptors Win Streak

For seven innings, it appeared the Ogden Raptors were on their way to a fourth-straight victory, and potentially their third shutout through 12 games of the Pioneer League season.
That all changed when Chad Spanberger, the first hitter of the top of the eighth, homered to break up the shutout and provide the Grand Junction offense the momentum they needed for a four-run frame to overcome the Raptors by a 4-3 final Friday night.
After Spanberger's home run, the Rockies put two men on base with two away. Alan Trejo hit a double to tie the game, and he scored the eventual winning run on a Brett Stephens single.
Ogden was ahead, 3-0, until that inning on the strength of two solo home runs. The two blasts brought their league-leading season total to 21. Rylan Bannon hit a drive to the opposite field in the first, his second round tripper of the season, and Luis Paz added his fourth of the campaign with a seventh-inning opposite field shot.
The other Raptors run scored during a two-out rally in the third inning. Michael Medina singled and moved to second on a walk. Garrett Hope followed with a bloop single as Medina sprinted to the plate.
The Raptors ended up with 10 hits in the ballgame and five batters hit by pitches, but they left 12 on base and finished 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Two pitchers, Justin Hoyt and Devin Hemmerich, made their professional debuts with scoreless innings. Hoyt pitched the sixth and achieved the rare feat of four strikeouts in an inning; one batter reached base on a wild pitch. Hemmerich followed with two strikeouts in the seventh, working around a leadoff double with help from Paz. On a ground ball to first, Paz fired across the diamond to third base to catch the runner trying to advance for a rare 3-5 putout.
The loss drops Ogden two games back of South division-leading Orem. The Owlz knocked off the Idaho Falls Chukars, 17-5, which meant Idaho Falls stayed tied with Ogden for second place as the two prepare for seven straight games against each other starting Saturday at Lindquist Field.
Saturday and Sunday are Bank of Utah nights 1 and 2, where showing a Bank of Utah debit or credit card at the ticket office gets you four free general admission tickets! Saturday is also Date Night - you buy your ticket and the Raptors will pay for your date's ticket. Wear your favorite casual Hawaiian clothing for Aloha Sundays; the players will be in brand-new Hawaiian jerseys of their own. Also, kids 12 and under get into the park completely FREE for every Sunday home game.
The last game of the homestand, Monday, July 3, is the first Mini-Monday of 2017. Every Monday home game, the Raptors will give away 500 mini bobblehead dolls featuring former Raptors/Ogden baseball ambassadors!