Raptors win game against Angels

OGDEN — The Raptors finally snapped their seven-game losing streak to the Provo Angels.

One night after losing a game they should have won to a 10th-inning rally, Ogden scored four runs in the eighth and held on to win 10-7 at Lindquist Field. Neither team's pitching was exceptional, but the Raptors offense produced more runs despite being out-hit, 10-8, by Provo.

Travis Denker hit a two-run, bases-loaded double In the eighth that Angels leftfielder Michael Hughes couldn't quite catch up to. B.J. Richmond followed him with a two-RBI single to put the game away.

Richmond's three RBI night led Ogden, and Denker and Ruggiano also contributed a pair of RBIs each to help the Raptors.

The Raptors (6-7, 25-25) picked up a game on South division-leading Provo (9-4, 29-22). Ogden was tied with Casper and Idaho Falls at four games back coming into the night.

Provo first baseman Chris Walston's big night was wasted. Walston was 3-for-4 with a three-run homer for the Angels.

Raptor southpaw starter Scott Elbert gave up Walston's shot to straightaway center in the second. Elbert pitched well otherwise, despite some control problems, but came out after four innings and wasn't eligible for the win.

David Parker (5-1) pitched 2 2/3 innings of middle relief to earn the victory. Parker walked five and struck out three, giving up two runs on Richard Giannotti homered in the seventh. Giannotti's drive to right, his second homer, brought the Angels to within one run at 6-5.

All five of Provo's runs before the ninth came on the longball.

The Angels rallied for two in the ninth against Gabriel Alvarez, with Monday's hero Andrew Toussaint hitting an RBI single and scoring on catcher Tim Duff's hit.

Alvarez kept the Angels from getting more runs by striking out the side to end the game. The righthander had five Ks in 2 1/3 innings to pick up his second save of the season.

Provo starter Billy Layman was unhittable for two-thirds of an inning. The Raptors sent eight men to the plate against him in the first without putting the ball in play as Layman struck out two and walked five, bringing home two Raptors.

Angel pitcher Jason Cox (1-2) got the final out of the first and went on to take the loss. Cox gave up six hits and four runs in 2 1/3 innings. Jason Douglas went three innings for Provo without giving up a hit, though he walked four and gave up two runs. Chris Mutter gave up two runs on two hits as the Angels final pitcher of the night.

The three-game series ends today. The teams will not meet again until Sept. 5-6, the final two games of the season.

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E-mail: RBurton@desnews.com