![]() Jeremy Rathjen was an 11th-round pick by the Dodgers in June. (Noall Knighton/Ogden Raptors)
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Rookie-level Ogden scored twice in the eighth inning to rally past Orem, 5-4, to clinch the Pioneer League South Division second-half title Tuesday.
Trailing by a run in the top of the eighth, Jeremy Rathjen opened the frame with a double to center field and advanced to third on Jesus Valdez's double. The Owlz chose to intentionally walk Dodgers' first-round pick Corey Seager to set up a force at any base. Noel Cuevas brought home Rathjen on a forceout at second base and Devin Shines capped the rally with a sacrifice fly that plated Valdez.
"We were down, and going to the eighth, we were just trying to get a run across and give our pitchers a chance to win," Rathjen said. "I was fortunate enough to get a pitch to hit and got knocked in."
For the Dodgers affiliate, the crown comes just a month after winning the first-half title. With the victory Tuesday, the Raptors have tied the franchise record of 44 wins with two games to play.
"We've done a good job of playing together as a team," Rathjen said. "The guys have responded well together and that has shown on the field. We've scratched some runs together and played well. We've done what it takes to win the game. It's not finished until we make a run in the playoffs."
The 22-year-old outfielder has been a bright spot in a nearly spotless year for the Raptors. Named to the Pioneer League postseason All-Star team, Rathjen, an 11th-round pick this year, is second on the team with 53 RBIs, second with a .331 average and is tied with Valdez with nine homers.
"The main difference is playing every day," the Rice University product said. "There's such a focus in college, there's less time for adjustment. In pro ball, you get to play every day, get more at-bats and see better pitching more often. I think that helps as far as developing an approach."
Michael Drowne improved to 4-1 after allowing two hits over 1 1/3 innings of relief and Owen Jones recorded the final five outs to close out his seventh save for the Raptors.
Grand Junction, which had its division title hopes dashed with a 7-2 loss to Idaho Falls on Tuesday, will head to the playoffs via the Wild Card. The Rockies clinched that berth Monday. Max White drove in four runs and Carl Thomore hit a three-run homer in the Labor Day victory.
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