Raptors fall in 27-15 washout to lose series at Grand Junction
The Grand Junction Jackalopes homered six times and hammered pitchers and non-pitchers alike on the way to a 27-15 victory over the Ogden Raptors on Sunday afternoon to win a three-game series between the two teams.
Ogden (38-28, 7-11) returns home Monday for a three-game series against the first-place Rocky Mountain Vibes (32-33, 12-6).
It’s “The Sandlot” night Monday, where the Raptors, celebrating 30 years of baseball, will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the beloved baseball film.
Chauncey Leopardi, who played Michael “Squints” Palledorous in the 1993 film, will appear at a meet-and-greet at 3 p.m. at Lorin Farr Pool, where one well-known scene of “The Sandlot” was filmed.
Leopardi will throw out the first pitch at the game, scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start. The Raptors will wear special uniforms based on the movie, and those will be available for purchase via auction during the game. The film will then be shown on the video board after the game.
On the field, Ogden’s blowout defeat signaled the third series loss for the Raptors in the second half. After losing just 1 of 12 series on the way to a first-half championship, Ogden is yet to win a series (out of four) in the second half.
JACKALOPES 27, RAPTORS 15
Damian Henderson homered twice and Dane Tofteland once for Ogden on Sunday, but the Raptors trailed 16-1 after three innings.
Of Grand Junction’s six home runs, Ron Washington Jr. socked two of them on the way to 7 RBIs. That gives him 20 homers on the season, tying him with Ogden outfielder Reese Aleixades for the league lead.
Joe Johnson and Jaylen Hubbard each homered once and doubled twice for the Jackalopes. Hubbard drove in six runs.
Mason Ross, a longtime bullpen catcher for Ogden, was recently activated as a pitcher after Pablo Arevalo suffered an injury on the road trip. Ross gave up seven runs in two innings to make it 23-7 after five frames.
Outfielder Cam Phelts threw to the final batter of the fifth, inducing a flyout. Infielder/outfielders Juan Teixeira (one inning, one run) and Dane Tofteland (one inning, one run) got the game to the eighth inning, where Washington socked his second homer off third baseman Rafael Narea.
Grand Junction outhit Ogden 29-18.
JACKALOPES 3, RAPTORS 2
Saturday’s game was the opposite: Ogden outhit Grand Junction 8-5 and got a two-run single from Nick Ultsch in the eighth inning to tie the game 2-2.
But Jacob Cruce hit a solo homer in the bottom of the eighth to win it for GJ, the only run Ed Baram allowed in three relief innings for Ogden.
Garrett Van Zijll struck out seven and allowed two runs in a five-inning start for the Raptors.
Chris Allen struck out 12 Raptors over six innings in a no-decision start for the Jackalopes.