Raptors unload on Owls to even season-opening series

OGDEN — For the second time in two nights, the Ogden Raptors saw solid pitching from its starting pitcher, only this time they have something to show for it.

Ogden right-hander Josh Wall allowed just one run on three hits in 5 2/3 innings Wednesday night to lead the Raptors to the 14-1 victory over Orem for their first win and his first win of the 2006 season.

"Josh did a heckuva a job tonight. He hung in there and threw the ball well," Ogden manager Lance Parrish said. "He's thrown the ball well for us most of the spring, so I was hoping he wouldn't get the jitters. He settled in pretty quick."

Tuesday night, in the season lid-lifter, Ogden's Jesus Castillo surrendered just one run on six hits in six innings, but suffered the loss. The Raptors, however, gave Wall all the support he would need and then some.

The Raptors (1-1) collected 12 hits for the game, including a grand slam Chris Jensen in a five-run eighth inning — Ogden's second five-run inning of the game.

"When you play well everything seems to go well. (Tuesday) we didn't start out very good offensively and maybe got a little tight and kicked the ball around defensively. It seemed slow hitting and not-so-good defense when hand in hand," Parrish said. "(Wednesday) we looked like we were a little more on the ball and started to get some hits early. Once we jumped out to a lead it helped every once relax."

Wall, a second-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers last year who went 1-3 with a 3.86 ERA in the Gulf Coast League last year, gave up just one hit through four innings before the Owlz (1-1) tied the score at 1-1 with on an RBI single by Tadd Brewer.

Ogden, however, answered with its first five-run inning in the bottom of the inning. The Raptors, who had just two hits through four innings off Orem starter Anthony Ortega, sent 11 runners to the plate in the decisive inning. A hit batter, three walks and three base hits, including a two-run double by Jensen, fueled the Raptors.

One inning later, the Raptors scored three more runs on four hits.

After a silent seventh, Jensen belted his granny — the first homer by a Raptor player this season in the eighth.

In all, Wall and three relievers — Doug Brooks, Miguel Sanfler and Miguel Ramirez — held the Owlz, who had 11 hits Tuesday night, to just four hits in the game and only one hit in the final four innings.

Ortega left after 4 2/3 after giving up just two runs on four hits while striking out four in taking the loss. The Orem bullpen allowed 12 runs in four innings.

Behind Jensen, who went 2-for-5 with six RBIs, Eduardo Perez tallied three hits with three RBIs, while Justin Fuller reached base four times and score three times.

The same two teams meet tonight at 7 p.m., but this time it will be in Orem for the Owlz' season opener.

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com