More walks doom Ogden Raptors in 22-9 loss to Missoula Paddleheads
BRIAN WOLFER, Special to the Standard-Examiner
Ogden Raptors players stand in the dugout on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.OGDEN — After taking a break Monday and making a handful of roster moves, the one-win Ogden Raptors opened a six-game home series against the Missoula Paddleheads with some promise.
Raptors starter Alex Friesen pitched a quick, smooth first inning and Chris Sargent singled home Nick Ultsch to put Ogden ahead 1-0.
But the wheels fell off in the second inning. Missoula designated hitter Luis Navarro hit a hot bouncer up the middle and Matthew Golda, playing shortstop in his first game in Ogden, hurt himself diving for the ball.
After Golda received attention and slowly walked off the field, Friesen threw eight straight balls, then surrendered a bases-clearing double to Colin Gordon off the left-field wall.
Chase Stratton took the bump for Ogden and eventually recorded three outs, but not before Alec Sanchez socked a three-run homer over Raptor Ridge.
What became an eight-run second inning sparked Missoula to a 22-9 victory Tuesday night at Lindquist Field.
Despite the 13-run difference, Ogden (1-6) matched hits with Missoula (5-2); each team had 18 apiece.
What accounts for the difference is the Raptors’ struggling pitching staff issuing 13 walks (to Missoula’s two). Ogden pitchers have walked 67 batters in seven games.
As if that walk margin wasn’t enough, the Raptors also hit into four double plays Tuesday night.
After roster changes, Ogden planned to use more pitchers than usual to begin the series but ultimately put eight guys on the mound and Jack Cone, who started the game in center field, was the only one who didn’t give up a run. He threw the ninth, retiring three straight after giving up an infield single and a tapper to right.
After three straight innings grounding into a double play, the Raptors took a break in the sixth when Anthony Herron — who started at first base after being acquired in a trade from the Rocky Mountain Vibes — lifted a three-run home run to left-center. That was part of a five-run inning that cut the margin to 15-6.
But the Paddleheads answered with five more runs in the top of the seventh.
Missoula hit five home runs. Sanchez hit another, and Navarro, Mike Rosario and Josh Elvir each recorded dingers on a night when several fly balls seemed to have more life than is normal.
The two teams play again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.