Raptor pitching staff stingy in victory over the Brewers

OGDEN — After losing five of their last six games, the Ogden Raptors got back on track Monday night with a 4-1 win over the Helena Brewers.

The Raptors' pitching staff gave up only five hits and struck out seven to preserve the victory.

"I couldn't be happier with the way they've been pitching," Ogden manager Lance Parrish said. "We got back on the winning track."

Parrish said after his team's recent slide, he'll take any win he can get.

"I'm happy about (the win), but we still have work to do," he said. "I'm still looking for that error-free game. Most of the runs we give up are unearned."

Such was the case Monday as Helena's only run came because of a pop fly that wasn't caught in the third inning.

"Mistakes drive me crazy," Parrish said. "We still can't have a clean win."

The manager said even though his team only scored four times Monday, he is not worried about its hitting.

"Shoot, we scored 20 runs in Casper (in one game)," he said. "It's not like we got shut down."

Chris Jensen led the Raptors by going 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Ryan Rogowski also reached base three times with two singles and a walk.

Bryan Morris, a first-round draft choice for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006, started the game and lasted four innings, giving up only one unearned run on one hit while striking out three. Jesus Rodriguez was credited with the win by pitching three scoreless innings and allowing four hits. Miguel Ramirez pitched the ninth to earn the first save of the year for the Raptors.

Ogden struck first with two runs in the second inning. After Tommy Giles singled in Rick Taloa — Giles' first hit of the season — John Martin was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Chris Jensen to make the score 2-0.

Helena got on the scoreboard in the third when David Parker scored on an error, making the score 2-1.

Ryan Rogowski scored on a sacrifice fly from Matt Berezay in the fifth to give the Raptors another two-run cushion. Ogden added its fourth run in the eighth on an RBI-single from Michael Rivera. Three of Helena's five hits were erased by double plays. The two teams will continue their four-game set at Lindquist Field tonight at 7.

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