Rockies Pitching Stifles Raptors
GRAND JUNCTION - Two sparkling performances by Ogden (16-19) pitching were overshadowed by a lack of offense in a 5-0 shutout loss at Grand Junction (20-15) on Friday night, the first time the Raptors have been held scoreless this season. Ogden only hit safely twice, its lowest hit total of the season.
Philip Pfeifer, the Los Angeles Dodgers 3rd round pick out of Vanderbilt, started and worked around three walks, only giving up a single hit and no runs in 1 2/3 innings. The left-hander, limited with a 35-pitch count, left with runners on the corners in the second, but Clint Freeman induced a pop up to record the final out of the inning.
Josh Sborz, a Competitive Balance Round B pick from Virginia limited to the same 35-pitch count, gave up one run in two innings. With runners on the corners and one out in the fourth inning, Campbell Wear reached on an RBI fielder's choice. Sborz (0-1), the 2015 College World Series Most Outstanding Player, was charged with the loss, but struck out two allowing only one hit on the night.
"I really liked the way [Pfeifer and Sborz] looked confident and mixed their pitches up pretty well," said manager John Shoemaker. "Hopefully these guys are good pitchers for a long time in the Dodgers system. I was really impressed with those two guys tonight."
Kyle Freeland, the Colorado Rockies 1st round draft pick in 2014 (8th overall), did not allow a hit in three innings of work, striking out three. The left-hander, making his first start of 2015 while recovering from minor shoulder surgery, walked one and only faced two over the minimum.
Willie Calhoun doubled in the fourth and Scott De Jong singled in the seventh for the only two Raptors hits of the game. De Jong's single extended his hitting streak to 12 games, now the longest streak for a Raptor this season. Both offenses were held back by a 30 MPH wind blowing in.
"We faced a pretty good starter," Shoemaker said. "The wind was blowing straight in on us. The wind was really treacherous out there."
Edwin Rios, the Dodger's 6th round pick in June's draft, made his Ogden debut after playing in two games for the Arizona League Dodgers. Rios finished 0-3 at the plate, but made a dazzling diving stop on a line drive off the bat of Cole Anderson in the seventh.
"I was really impressed with his agility and his knowledge of third base," Shoemaker said of Rios. "Looks like a really great kid."
MJ Villegas, making his first appearance since returning from the AZL, gave up an unearned run in two innings. Hector Rodriguez also made his Raptors debut after being transferred from the AZL Dodgers on Thursday. Rodriguez gave up two earned runs in one inning of work. Bernardo Reyes labored through an inning, surrendering one earned run on two hits and a walk.
Ogden and Grand Junction play game three of their four game set on Saturday night. LHP Michael Boyle (0-0, 0.77) starts for Ogden, while RHP Mike Nikorak (0-0, 3.38) gets the ball for Grand Junction at 7:05 pm MST. Games can be heard online at ogden-raptors.com or on the tunein mobile app.