Short on usable arms, the Missoula Paddleheads started a position player on the mound and followed him with another.

Despite that, the Raptors still trailed 13-5 after five innings, at which point Missoula went to its actual bullpen.

The Paddleheads went on to win 17-9 in Game 3 of the series.

The pitching woes continue for Ogden (1-8), which surrendered 19 hits and issued 11 walks.

The Raptors added Guillermo Cuevas to the roster this week; the lefty who pitched 2021 and 2023 in the White Sox system got the ball to start Thursday. Ogden also brought in righty Shane Gustafson, who had Pioneer League stints in Great Falls in each of the past three seasons with a short stay in the Reds minor-league system.

A strong second inning from Cuevas was lost in the ring of the scoreboard tallying runs in the first and third innings.

Though only one was scored an error, consecutive misplays from Ogden shortstop Matthew Golda turned a three-run first inning into six runs for Missoula (7-2).

Cuevas issued three walks, gave up a hit and a sacrifice fly to open the third inning and was replaced by Gustafson. Cuevas allowed 10 runs on six hits while issuing six walks in 2 1/3 innings.

Gustafson walked in two runs before getting out of the third inning with the score 10-2.

One of those walks seemed historic: using the new strike zone challenge rule, where a pitcher, catcher or hitter can ask for a review of a pitch on Trackman’s Automated Balls and Strikes system, Missoula designated hitter Luis Navarro successfully challenged three consecutive called third strikes. All overturned to balls, the final one was ball four, pushing across a run with the bases loaded.

Gustafson gave up three runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Cuevas and Gustafson combined to allow 13 runs on 10 hits with nine walks in five innings. Comparatively, Missoula infielders Colin Runge and Cameron Thompson pitched five innings, allowing just five runs on nine hits while walking only one batter.

Runge threw mostly offspeed pitches and appeared to sprinkle in a knuckleball, while Thompson threw with more zip and a noticeably sharper curve ball.

Ogden infielder Landen Barns drove in two runs on a single to cut the deficit to 10-4 after three innings, but Mike Rosario’s solo home run in the top of the fourth pushed the score back to 13-4.

Raptors first baseman Anthony Herron Jr. hit a two-run single in the sixth for a 15-8 score, but the game got no closer.

Gabriel Pacheco, the youngest player on the Raptors at age 21, had the best outing on the mound, allowing one run on three hits, striking out one and walking one over two innings. Barns, Jack Cone, Pearce Howard and Chuck Steele all hit 2 for 4.

For Missoula, outfielder Adam Fogel hit 4 for 5 with three RBIs. Taylor Smith and Colin Gordon each hit 3 for 4 with two walks and two runs scored.

The two teams play Game 4 of the series at 6:30 p.m. Friday.