The Ogden Raptors are some sort of snakebitten lately, it seems, in their series in Colorado Springs against the Rocky Mountain Vibes.

Thursday night, the Raptors left the bases loaded in each of the final two innings without scoring to lose 6-5. Friday night, Ogden gave up a late 11-6 lead and proceeded to lose in a Knockout tiebreaker.

Saturday night, an odd set of events led to Ogden giving up a 4-1 lead in the seventh, tying it back up in the ninth, and losing yet again in a Knockout tiebreaker for the Vibes to claim a 7-6 win.

Jorge Gonzalez allowed one run, on a balk in the first inning, in his five-inning start for Ogden.

The Raptors (46-37, 17-18) claimed a 4-1 lead after Jesus Valdez hit RBI singles in the first and third innings, Sonny Ulliana hit a solo homer in the fourth, and Dakota Conners pushed across a run in the sixth on a fielder’s choice. Ogden then left runners on second and third with one out in the sixth.

Usual starter Sidney Duprey relieved Gonzalez in the sixth and sat the Vibes in order, then struck out two in the seventh while also giving up a single and walking a batter.

Alberto Gonzalez then took over for Duprey to try and get the final out of the seventh, and that’s when things got strange. A bluster of wind blew so much dust into the field of play — coming from a parking lot outside the stadium, according to the live stream broadcaster — that one could barely see the action when the broadcast showed the view from the camera placed beyond the centerfield wall that is focused on home plate.

Alberto Gonzalez eventually got Ethan Lopez to pop up a pitch into foul territory near third base, and the inning appeared to be over. But third baseman Josh Broughton couldn’t track the ball well and dropped the catch.

Lopez hit a home run on the next pitch to tie the game 4-4.

Alberto Gonzalez couldn’t get out of it then, either, with dust continuing to blow into the field. Luis Navarro singled, Alan Garcia doubled him in, and Garcia scored on a Domonique Hernandez single to put the Vibes up 6-4. Ogden manager Kash Beauchamp was ejected from the game at some point in this sequence, getting his piece in and covering home plate in dirt.

Pete Bayer pitched a strong eighth for the Vibes (32-47, 16-17) before the home team went to closer Miguel Pozo in the ninth for the fourth time in the series.

With one out in the top of the ninth, Valdez launched a 444-foot home run to center field to make it 6-5.

Brian Dansereau then grounded out to second, a dribbler that he appeared to beat to first base but was called out. That call ended up mattering quite a bit.

Freddy Achecar lined a hot shot to shortstop and reached first base via error. Reese Alexiades singled up the middle, and Ottesen came on to run for Achecar at second.

Ulliana then stepped in the box with two outs in the top of the ninth and the game tied 6-5. It was the same situation and score in which he batted Thursday, though the bases were loaded that time when he struck out to end the game.

He came through Saturday, lining a double down the left-field line to score Ottesen and tie it 6-6. Had Dansereau been called safe, that would have put Ogden ahead 7-6. As it was, the Raptors still had runners on second and third with two outs, but Logan Williams couldn’t put Ogden ahead and grounded out to third.

Jackson Lancaster took the mound for Ogden and pitched another scoreless inning, sending the game to Knockout.

Knockout is 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-home run outs, whichever comes first.

For the second straight night, the Raptors sent Jesus Valdez to hit in the first round. Friday night, he had Ogden’s season-best performance in Knockout, hitting two home runs in the first round. Saturday, he hit zero.

The Vibes again sent up Lopez to hit in the first round, and he hit a homer to left-center on his first swing, claiming the win for Rocky Mountain.

Ogden is now 0-6 this season in Knockout games.

Raptors pitchers Jorge Gonzalez, Sidney Duprey, Jake Mulholland and Jackson Lancaster gave up only six hits in a combined 8 2/3 innings of work. But Alberto Gonzalez allowed four hits in his 1/3 of an inning during the costly seventh.

Valdez hit 4 for 5 with three runs batted in to lead Ogden at the plate. Ulliana was 3 for 4.

SATURDAY SCORES

Rocky Mountain 7, Ogden 6 (via Knockout)

Northern Colorado 12, Grand Junction 8

Idaho Falls 17, Boise 15

Missoula 4, Billings 2

Glacier 3, Great Falls 2

PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS

Second Half

NORTH DIVISION

*Missoula 24-11 (59-23 overall)

Billings 19-16 (44-37)

Idaho Falls 17-17 (45-37)

Glacier 17-17 (34-47)

Great Falls 15-19 (42-39)

SOUTH DIVISION

Grand Junction 26-9 (52-31)

*Ogden 17-18 (46-37)

Rocky Mountain 16-17 (32-47)

Northern Colorado 13-22 (30-50)

Boise 8-26 (25-57)

*-indicates 1st-half champion

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