Ogden Raptors fall to 0-5 in Knockout games after giving up 5-run lead to Vibes | News, Sports, Jobs

The Ogden Raptors gave up a late 11-6 lead and went to a knockout tiebreaker in an 11-11 game, ultimately losing in two knockout rounds to the Rocky Mountain Vibes to fall to 17-17 in the second half and 0-5 in Knockout games this season.

Ogden (46-36, 17-17) shortstop Jesus Valdez hit two two-run doubles. The second came in the sixth inning to put the Raptors up 9-6.

Raptors catcher Sonny Ulliana, who hit 5 for 5, doubled in a run in the seventh and scored on a Dustyn Macaluso single for an 11-6 lead.

Relief pitcher Brandon McCabe gave up two Vibes (31-47, 15-17) runs in the seventh to make it 11-8.

Miguel Cirino got two outs after Adam Scoggins put the leadoff batter aboard in the eighth, but then walked the bases loaded. Ace closer Jackson Lancaster took the mound but looked off-kilter, walking in a run to make it 11-9.

Domonique Hernandez then bashed a ball down the right-field line, a sure triple in the vast UC Health Park in Colorado Springs that would clear the bases and put Rocky Mountain ahead — but it found a nook under the fence for a ground-rule double , scoring just two to tie it 11-11.

Lancaster got former teammate Nick Michaels to line out and end the eighth inning.

Neither team threatened in the ninth, with Lancaster back to form (none of the runs were charged to his ledger, so he pitched a scoreless 1 1/3 innings as far as stats are concerned).

That sent the game to knockout, a home-run derby tiebreaker unique to the Pioneer League. Each team sends a player to the plate to hit as many homers as they can in 2 minutes or before recording five non-homer outs, whichever comes first.

Valdez got his first shot at Knockout this season and did something no other Raptors player has: he hit more than one home run, sending two over the fence in his Knockout round.

It looked for a moment that it would get Ogden a win when Vibes player Mike Annone couldn’t throw strikes for his hitter, Ethan Lopez. But Lopez sent his second homer over the wall in left with 30 seconds left. He then ran out of time before recording his fifth out.

With Matt Warkentin unavailable, as he did not appear in Ogden’s lineup Friday night on a night off, the Raptors sent Josh Broughton to the plate for the second round. He hit five quick outs and did not flirt with any homers.

Rocky Mountain sent former Raptors player Nick Michaels to hit in their half of the second round, and he hit his second swing over the fence to claim victory for the Vibes.

Ogden has dropped his last two games in tough fashion, losing 6-5 on Thursday while leaving the bases loaded in the eighth and ninth innings, and 12-11 Friday via knockout after giving up an 11-6 lead.

The two teams finish the series at 6:30 pm Saturday and 5 pm Sunday. The season series is tied 8-8. There are 14 games remaining in the regular season before Ogden tangles with, in all likelihood, the Grand Junction Rockies in the divisional round of the playoffs.

SATURDAY SCORES

Rocky Mountain 12, Ogden 11 (via knockout in 2 rounds)

13 Northern Colorado, 8 Grand Junction

Billings 5, Missoula 2

Great Falls 4, Glacier 3 (via Knockout)

Idaho Falls 23, Boise 3

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

second half

NORTH DIVISION

*Missoula 23-11 (58-23 overall)

Billings 19-15 (44-36)

Idaho Falls 16-17 (44-37)

Glacier 16-17 (33-47)

Great Falls 15-18 (42-38)

SOUTH DIVISION

Grand Junction 26-8 (52-30)

*Ogden 17-17 (46-36)

Rocky Mountain 15-17 (31-47)

Northern Colorado 12-22 (29-50)

Boise 8-25 (25-56)

*-indicates 1st-half champion

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