Raptors Survive Slugfest

The most recent Ogden Raptors visit to Grand Junction, in early-September of 2016, saw the visitors win three of four and clinch the second-half Southern division title with a come-from-behind, 14-13 win.
The first Ogden trip to Suplizio Field in 2017 produced a result similar to that clinching game. En route to a 12-11 win over the Rockies Friday night, the Raptors crushed seven extra-base hits, including back-to-back home runs in the ninth, and came back from deficits of 5-2 and 9-8 to claim victory for the second time this season.
Two early sacrifice flies put Ogden on the board, but Grand Junction tied the game in the third and went ahead with a three-run fourth inning.
The top of the fifth, however, saw the Raptors send nine men to the plate and score five runs for a 7-5 lead, capped off by Brock Carpenter's two-run triple.
A solo home run and sacrifice fly knotted the game at 7 in the Rockies sixth, but Cristian Santana's third home run of the season put Ogden back in front to open the seventh.
Despite the run surges, the Raptors required a ninth-inning comeback and insurance runs to put the game away.
With the help of a balk, Grand Junction scored twice in the bottom of the eighth for a one-run lead.
Santana led off the ninth with his third hit of the day, a double, and he scored to tie the game when the Rockies third baseman couldn't handle a chopper down the line. That brought up Luis Paz, who had only one hit in twelve at-bats on the young season - including 0-for-4 on the game. Paz launched a 1-1 pitch over the center field fence, his first round tripper of the year, to put Ogden back in front. Moises Perez followed with his first homer for a 12-9 lead.
The Raptors weren't out of the woods yet. A triple and home run from the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth pulled the Rockies within one, but Logan Crouse settled down and retired the next three batters to end the game.
With the win, Ogden breaks a tie with Grand Junction for third place and pushes the Rockies into the cellar. The two teams are back at it Saturday at 6:40, after which the Raptors head to Orem for games on Sunday and Monday.
After the four-game road trip, the Raptors will be back at Lindquist Field Tuesday, June 27^th, to start a seven-game homestand against all three of their Pioneer League Southern Division opponents.
Tuesday will be a "Taco Tuesday, with $1 tacos available all night long while they last. Wednesday will see another edition of "Ugly Outfit Wednesdays", with prizes such as Raptors shirts and caps and a $100 gift card being awarded to fans wearing their worst.
Thirsty Thursday features $2 12-ounce domestic cans and draft beers along with half-price fountain drinks. On "Free Tee Fridays", the first 300 fans will receive a Raptors T-shirt - every Friday home game features a new design!