Raptors leave rally short, lose on 9th-inning passed ball against Idaho Falls

BRETT HEIN, Standard-Examiner
Oggie, the Ogden Raptors mascot, watches the bullpen before a game July 15, 2024, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.The Ogden Raptors struck out five times with runners on second and third in the final two innings and Idaho Falls scored the winning run on a passed ball as the visiting Chukars won 5-4 on Wednesday at Lindquist Field.
All but one of the game’s runs came in the final three innings. Idaho Falls outfielder Jacob Shanks tripled off Chris Macca in the fourth and scored when Macca balked.
Macca allowed that run on three hits, striking out seven and walking two in six innings. For the Chukars (33-47, 13-19 second half), Owen Sharts allowed two runs on two hits, striking out seven and walking two, in seven innings.
After an RBI groundout in the seventh put Idaho Falls up 2-0, Ogden (36-44, 14-18) finally got to Sharts when outfielder Jack Cone left the yard with a runner on base, tying it 2-2.
In the eighth, Raptors reliever Brayden Bonner gave up three singles and an RBI flyout, and Idaho Falls went up 4-2.
Ogden got the answer it needed in the eighth. Garrett Crowley took the mound for Sharts and gave up singles to Pearce Howard and Elliott Good, then loaded the bases by hitting Nick Ultsch.
Idaho Falls then gave the ball to Luke Hempel and Connor Bagnieski immediately tied the game with a two-run single.
Chris Sargent drew a walk and, with the game tied 4-4, Ogden again had the bases loaded with no outs. Hempel stuffed the rally there, however, striking out Drew Brutcher, True Fontenot and Cone in order.
In the ninth, Ogden’s Dylan Matsuoka walked two and gave up a bunt single with no outs. The Raptors nearly got out of the woods when IF outfielder Grady Morgan grounded into a 4-2-3 double play to avoid a run and record two outs.
But the Chukars plated the go-ahead run during the next at-bat on a passed ball charged to the catcher Sargent.
Ogden revisited the unwanted feat from the eighth inning in the bottom of the ninth. Cole Jordan and Howard each singled, and a sacrifice bunt from Good put the tying and winning runs in scoring position with one out.
But closer Rob Hughes struck out Bagnieski and Sargent, both swinging, to end the game.
Cone hit 2 for 4 with a double and his homer, and Howard added two hits in his only at-bats after entering the game late; the two accounted for four of Ogden’s seven hits.
Idaho Falls recorded just two RBIs on its five runs.
The two teams play again at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
GIL OUT
Ogden’s offense took a hit Tuesday when the Raptors placed infielder Raymond Gil on the 60-day injured list (and reactivated Chris Coipel). Gil leads Ogden with 18 home runs and is fourth with 53 RBI in 67 games.