Chukars Stun Raptors with Seven-Run Walk-Off
OGDEN - "The game of baseball is not over until you record that final out."
An otherwise simple and obvious statement from Raptors manager John Shoemaker was the only possible explanation for what happened Friday night at Melaleuca Field in Idaho Falls.
The Idaho Falls Chukars (3-1, 16-26) - who had managed just three hits in the first eight innings - scored seven runs on seven hits in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk-off the Ogden Raptors (1-3, 20-22), who recorded only one out in the fateful inning resulting in a 9-8 defeat.
Ivan Vieitez started for the Raptors and exited the ballgame in line for his first win of the season with perhaps his best outing of the year. Vieitez threw a season-long five innings, allowing two runs on just three hits while striking out a season-high five batters.
As good as Vieitez pitched, Wes Helsabeck was even better. The reliver threw three hitless, scoreless innings and likewise struck out a season-high five batters. Vieitez and Helsabeck were dominant in the first eight innings.
But baseball is a nine-inning game.
"We've not identified a closer, so everybody's getting an opportunity to pitch in certain situations," Shoemaker said.
The opportunity first fell to Clint Freeman, who is the only Ogden pitcher with multiple saves this season, although the six-run lead he inherited was too big to merit an official save situation.
Pioneer League All=Star Amalani Fukofuka led off with what should have been a routine single to centerfield, but Gage Green made a diving attempt at the ball, which bounced over the center fielder and rolled all the way back to the outfield wall. Fukofuka circled the bases for a leadoff inside-the-park home run.
Fellow All-Star Josh Banuelos hit a ground ball back to Freeman who slipped on the infield grass and still attempted to make a throw to Matt Jones at first base which sailed wide. Banuelos reached on the infield singer and advanced to second on the throw. Roman Collins struck out to record the only out of the inning and the next eight Chukars all reached base safely.
Marten Gasparini singled to score Banuelos. Kyle Pollock singled, followed by Brawlun Gomez who doubled home two more runs to bring the tying run to the plate.
Bernardo Reyes replaced Clint Freeman and put the first two batters on to load the bases, hitting Ryan Dale and walking Cody Jones. DJ Burt singled to score Gomez and put the tying run on third and the winning run in scoring position.
Fukofuka - batting for the second time in the inning - hit a ground ball to Matt Jones who dove to keep the ball in the infield. Pronate on the infield dirt, Jones threw the ball home to Jake Henson for what appeared to be a force out at the plate, but home plate umpire Sean Markle ruled Dale safe. After the game, Shoemaker said Markle's explanation was that the throw did not beat Dale.
With the winning run just 90 feet away, Shoemaker brought right fielder Faustino Oguisten in as a fifth infielder. Banuelos hit a ground ball to Kelvin Ramos at second base, but Ramos slipped on the throw home allowing Jones to score the walk-off run.
The ninth inning collapse overshadowed not only Vieitez and Helsabeck's outings, but three outstanding performances at the plate by Jake Henson, Jordan Tarsovich, and Ramos. Henson went 4-for-5, scoring a Raptors' season-high four runs, including a two-run home run in the seventh inning. Tarsovich and Ramos each collected three hits as the two newest Ogden Raptors. Ramos, who caught an early morning flight from Midland, Michigan to join the team, also knocked in three runs.
"It's just one of those games you look back on at the end of the season and hope that's not one game that keeps us out of the playoffs," Shoemaker said.
Both teams travel south on I-15 to play two games at Lindquist Field in Ogden ahead of Monday's All-Star break. Jairo Pacheco (4-2, 4.10) will lead the Raptors against Idaho Falls' Carter Hope (0-2, 3.44). First pitch is at 7pm MT.