Slugfest in Ogden Goes to the Raptors

By Tyler Petersen 

OGDEN, Utah – In the first meeting of the year between two Southern Division opponents, the Rocky Mountain Vibes lost to the Ogden Raptors 14-9.

The Raptors put a four-spot up on the board in the first inning on four hits, all of them singles. It is now a worrying trend that started last week: the Vibes have allowed the opposition to score in the first inning for eight straight games.

Ogden added two more unearned runs in the second inning and held a 6-0 lead.

In the top of the third the Vibes struck back. Joe Encarnacion pruned a bough off the Ogden lead with a three-run home run to left field, his second of the season.

The Raptors had an immediate retort for Joe's big fly in the bottom of the inning. They scored four more times including a two-run shot by Sonny Ulliana. The lead was up to seven now in a 10-3 ballgame.

In the fourth, Domonique Hernandez hit a solo homer, his sixth of the season. But again, another loud answer by the Raptors who brought across three more runs.

As they have done so many times this season, the Vibes made a game of it despite a large deficit. Luis Navarro and Cesar Lopez both picked up an RBI in the sixth to bring in two. The next inning it was a second act from both Hernandez and Navarro who both had run-scoring doubles. Two scored on Navarro's two-bagger giving him a two-hit, three-RBI night. It was 13-9 after the top of the seventh.

It would not be enough on Tuesday night. The Raptors would add one more to their run column and took the first game of the series.

Ogden keeps pace with Grand Junction, which also won tonight. The Raptors have a three-game lead on the Rockies and a magic number of "2" to win the division.