Raptors fall behind, can't recover

OGDEN — The Raptors lost a close game to Idaho Falls 6-5 by allowing the Chukars to take a big, early lead and never recovering.

Ogden trailed by only a run for most of the game after giving up five runs in the third inning.

"We battled back and forth," manager Juan Bustabad said. "That one big inning was the difference. We had our chances. We just didn't get that one big hit we needed.

The Raptors outhit their opponents 14-11, but struggled on the bases. Juan Rivera was caught stealing third in the first inning, and Mitchell was picked off first in the seventh.

"We're a good hitting team," Bustabad said. "We battle every game. But (Idaho Falls') relievers did a good job.

The loss dropped the Raptors' to 10-5 and allowed the Chukars to get to within two games of Ogden for first place.

Starting pitcher David Pfeiffer picked up only his second loss of the year by allowing five runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.

The Raptors cut the deficit to one in the eighth when B.J. Richmond scored on a wild pitch, making the score 6-5.

But Ogden was unable to score in the final inning. David Sutherland led off with a single, but Russ Mitchell grounded into a double-play — which was heavily contested by Bustabad, Mitchell and first-base coach Jose Mejia — to clear the bases.

"There were a lot of close calls that could have went either way," Bustabad said.

Idaho Falls added an insurance run in the eighth inning with an infield single by Brady Everett which allowed Andrew Larsen to score, making it 6-4.

After throwing two perfect innings to start the game, Pfeiffer allowed a five-run, seven-hit third inning. Brady Everett, Josh Colafemina, Jeremy Jirshele, Blake Adkison and Felix Peguero each had an RBI in the stanza.

The Raptors responded with three runs in their next at bat. Sutherland drove in Rivera with a ground-ball out and Mitchell hit a two-run home run — his fifth of the year — which allowed Jesus Soto to cross home plate.

Jordan Pratt helped calm the Chukar momentum with 3 1/3 strong innings, giving up only one hit and no runs while striking out five.

"He did an outstanding job," Bustabad said. "He's done an outstanding job all year.

Ogden started the scoring in the first inning. After Rivera was caught trying to steal third base, Soto sent a long drive to left-center field for his first home run of the year, which gave the Raptors a 1-0 lead.

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