Rathjen's Slam Nets Raptors Win

OREM - Ogden Raptors centerfielder Jeremy Rathjen hit his first professional home run, a grand slam to left, to help the Raptors to an 8-5 win over the Orem Owlz Saturday night at Brent Brown Ballpark.

With the Raptors trailing 3-2 entering the seventh inning, Jose Capellan tripled to center to start the inning. Darnell Sweeney hit a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game. Malcolm Holland then reached on an error by third baseman Michael Snyder. Eric Smith, Jesus Valdez and Devin Shines drew consecutive walks to push across another run. Two batters later, Rathjen hit an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left, propelling the Raptors to an 8-3 lead.

Kazuki Nishijima earned his third win of the season, pitching a scoreless sixth inning.

Raptors starter Derek Cone allowed just three runs on five hits in five innings, striking out one.

The Raptors and Owlz will play the final game of their four-game series Sunday. Matt Laney will pitch for Ogden against Orem's Jairo Diaz. Game starts at 4:05 and can be heard on 97.5 Fox Sports Radio.