The two best teams in the Pioneer League’s South Division began a six-game series, the only set between the two in the second half, on Tuesday in Grand Junction.

Despite the Ogden Raptors getting a classic Ronny Orta start from one of the team’s two aces, the Rockies opened the series with a 3-2 win at Suplizio Field.

The Rockies got to Orta early for a 2-0 lead but he settled in and completed seven innings by striking out a pair in the bottom of the seventh.

By the time he departed, the Raptors had pulled to a 2-2 tie thanks to centerfielder Reese Alexiades.

Alexiades robbed a homer from GJ (36-25, 10-3) shortstop Shawn Ross in the bottom of the sixth, leaping high at the wall in the left-center alley to preserve a 2-0 score.

The next half-inning, after Jesus Valdez doubled with one out, Alexiades cracked a two-run homer to right-center for the 2-2 tie and knocking out GJ starter Izzy Fuentes.

Ogden (36-25, 7-6) nearly took a lead later that inning. With Freddy Achecar on second, Ross made a diving catch of a Dakota Conners liner that otherwise would have scored Achecar, ending the top of the seventh.

Brandon McCabe relieved Orta in the eighth inning and, after getting a great play for an out from Conners, walked two batters before striking out Ross.

Ogden made a pitching change to the left-handed Jake Mulholland for a lefty-on-lefty matchup, and the Rockies countered by pinch-hitting Colin Gordon, a Utah native and alum of Bingham High School. Gordon singled off the mound up the middle to score the winning run.

No box score or further details were available Tuesday night.

TUESDAY SCORES

Grand Junction 3, Ogden 2

Northern Colorado 8, Rocky Mountain 7

Idaho Falls 12, Boise 10

Billings 5, Glacier 2

Missoula 9, Great Falls 8 (via Knockout – 3 rounds)

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Second Half

NORTH DIVISION

*Missoula 8-5 (43-17 overall)

Idaho Falls 8-5 (36-25)

Great Falls 7-6 (34-26)

Billings 6-7 (31-28)

Glacier 4-9 (21-39)

SOUTH DIVISION

Grand Junction 10-3 (36-25)

Northern Colorado 7-5 (24-33)

*Ogden 7-6 (36-25)

Rocky Mountain 4-8 (20-38)

Boise 3-10 (20-41)

*- denotes first-half champion

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