Raptors flat again, Slocum leads Idaho Falls in 3-hit shutout of Ogden
The Ogden Raptors managed just three hits and Joe Slocum led Idaho Falls in a 6-0 victory Wednesday at Melaleuca Field in Idaho Falls.
Slocum threw 6 2/3 innings for the Chukars allowing two hits, walking two and striking out six. He departed with two outs in the seventh after Ogden first baseman Freddy Achecar tallied the Raptors’ second hit of the game and Slocum walked Jesus Valdez to put a runner in scoring position.
Nate Jenkins took the mound and struck out new Raptors player Jackson Lancaster. He made his professional debut after finishing his college career 10 days ago with Louisiana Tech, who played in the Texas regional of the NCAA tournament.
As he did some for both Missouri and Louisana Tech in college, Lancaster also threw an inning on the mound, facing the minimum in the eighth by striking out one, walking another, then inducing a double-play grounder. Lancaster was a late-round draft pick of the Seattle Mariners in 2019 out of junior college but he elected to finish his college career.
With Ogden replacing two players who signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks (Gunnar Groen, Fox Semones) earlier this week, and with Josh Broughton out of the lineup likely due to injury, outfielder Tyler Ryan also debuted for the Raptors on Wednesday, hitting 0 for 3.
A 2019 draft pick of the Dodgers who played some in the Arizona League (never in Ogden) that season, Ryan is in his third year of independent ball and played 11 games earlier this season for the Pioneer League’s Glacier Range Riders.
Catcher Sonny Ulliana doubled and Nick Michaels singled to account for Ogden’s other hits Wednesday.
For his second start after transitioning from Ogden’s bullpen, Dylan Pearce got beat up by allowing five earned runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings. Pearce got through the first two innings unscathed but a Brady West three-run homer put the Chukars up 4-0 after three innings and that would be all they needed.
Jorge Gonzalez allowed four hits and one run over 2 2/3 innings of relief, and Jack Cunningham threw a scoreless seventh before Lancaster’s eighth.
With two comfortable wins under their belts, the Chukars go for the mini-sweep Thursday before the two teams continue for three more games in Ogden from Friday through Sunday.
WEDNESDAY SCORES
Idaho Falls 6, Ogden 0
Grand Junction 12, Northern Colorado 11
Boise 9, Rocky Mountain 3
Missoula 9, Great Falls 8
Glacier 7 def. Billings 7 (win via Knockout)
PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS
Through June 15
NORTH DIVISION
Idaho Falls 15-4
Great Falls 14-6
Missoula 12-7
Billings 8-9
Glacier 8-11
SOUTH DIVISION
Ogden 10-8
Grand Junction 9-9
Northern Colorado 8-10
Boise 6-13
Rocky Mountain 3-16