After rain postponed the Ogden Raptors’ first two games in Grand Junction, the two teams finally faced off Friday night.

Nico Tellache nearly pitched a complete game for Ogden and a two-run homer from outfielder Reese Alexiades helped break open an eventual 7-4 Raptors win, the club’s sixth straight victory.

New outfielder Dom Abbadessa finally returned to the lineup and made a difference, leading off the game with a single and scoring on a Jakob Goldfarb groundout. Abbadessa also doubled in the seventh to help set up a two-run error that put Ogden ahead 6-1.

And, with the score 2-1, it was Alexiades who lifted his homer in the sixth inning to extend the lead to 4-1.

Then Alexiades tripled in the top of the ninth, scoring Owen Taylor, to get back an insurance run for a 7-3 lead.

Tellache officially staked his claim as Ogden’s ace, pitching into the ninth and holding a lead in seven of those innings. Vinny Esposito singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth and, after Tellache issued a walk, came around to score for Grand Junction on a single.

With the game 7-4 and the tying run at the plate, John Timmins subbed in for Tellache and recorded the final out, striking out Nate Scantlin in three pitches to end the game.

Tellache finished giving up nine hits and four earned runs over 8 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking one.

Because of rainouts, other than Tellache’s 119 pitches and Timmins’ three, nobody else on Ogden’s staff has thrown in a game since Monday.

To make up the lost games, Ogden and Grand Junction will play four games over the next two days, playing a doubleheader Saturday and another Sunday. Action starts at 4 p.m. both days and all four games will be decided in seven innings.

FRIDAY SCORES

Ogden 7, Grand Junction 4

Boise 9, Missoula 7

Idaho Falls 9, Great Falls 3

UPDATED STANDINGS

Second Half

NORTH

Billings 16-11 … 34-41 overall

Idaho Falls 16-14 … 50-28

*Missoula 16-14 … 51-27

Great Falls 13-17 … 32-46

SOUTH

Boise 18-12 … 38-40

Grand Junction 14-12 … 40-33

*Ogden 15-13 … 44-32

Rocky Mountain 5-20 … 15-57

* — denotes 1st-half champion

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