Four-run seventh ignites Raptors

OGDEN — Not since early in the month had Ogden experienced an inning as productive as the seventh frame Thursday night against the Helena Brewers, and the Raptors were grateful to see it come.

The Raptors, who fell behind by four runs early after the first half-inning, fought back and took the lead with a four-run seventh to beat the Brewers, 7-6, to snap a two-game losing streak.

"I was proud of the fact that they hung in there and battled," Ogden manager Lance Parrish said.

In the decisive inning, the Raptors, who tallied 10 hits in the game, sent nine hitters to the plate. The first five reached, and the first four of those scored to complete the comeback.

Lead-off hitter Ryan Rogowski (3-for-5, 3 runs scored) and pinch hitter Jesus Soto singled and Eduardo Perez walked to load the bases. Josh Bell followed with an RBI walk, and Rick Taloa tied the score at 5-5 with an RBI single.

After Chris Jensen struck out for the first out of the inning, Carlos Medero walked to force in another run, and Scott Van Slyke singled up the middle to score Bell for what proved to be the game-winner.

The Brewers jumped on Ogden starter Steven Johnson — who was pitching one day after having a hang nail removed from his big toe — for four runs in the first and one more in the third. In the meantime, however, the Raptors whittled away at the lead with a single run in the first and two more in the third on an RBI fielder's choice by Bell and a single by Taloa.

Ogden, which had stranded five runners on base prior to the seventh inning, finally got timely hits and key walks to post its first four-run inning since July 5.

Helena's Cole Gillespie, who was 6-for-6 with a walk in the Brewers' 21-10 victory over Ogden Wednesday night, had and RBI double in the first and a single in the third to go 8-for-8. The streak snapped in the fourth on a fielder's choice. He finished the game 3-for-5.

Johnson allowed five runs on 10 hits while striking out three before leaving after six without a decision. Jesus Rodriguez notched his third win of the year by allowing just one run on two hits in two innings. Miguel Ramirez collected his second save with a perfect ninth.

"I know he (Johnson) wasn't quite as effective as he wanted to be or what we have seen in the past," Parrish said. "He battled and I give him a lot of credit."

With the win, the Raptors (10-13) remain in a last-place tie with Casper in the Pioneer League South Division, while the Brewers (10-13) remain one game out of the North Division cellar over the Missoula Osprey, whom the Raptors host tonight at 7 at Lindquist Field for the first of three games.

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