Raptors Fall Before Fireworks

The Ogden Raptors entered Idaho Falls Tuesday looking to avenge their Fourth of July loss in 2016, in which the Chukars catcher hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10^th inning, and four other losses on Independence Day in Idaho since 2010.
The Raptors will have to wait until at least 2018, however, to earn their first July 4^th win since 2009.
Idaho Falls received seven and two-thirds innings from their starting pitcher and scored in four different frames for a 7-4 win over Ogden. The result brought both teams back into a tie for second place in the Pioneer League South division, three games behind Orem, which won Tuesday at Grand Junction.
The hosts plated two runs in the second and fourth against Carlos Felix, who had only given up two runs total in three previous starts with Ogden this season.
After stranding three runners in the first four innings while hitting into two double plays, Ogden finally went on the board in the fifth. With one out, Rylan Bannon launched his third home run of his first professional season, a solo shot to left field that hit off the video board.
The Raptors were again held scoreless the next three innings while Idaho Falls padded their lead with two more runs in the fifth and one in the seventh for a 7-1 advantage.
In the ninth, Nick Yarnall led off with his fourth home run of the season in only 55 at-bats - after he hit just one in 147 at-bats after being drafted in 2016.
Garrett Hope followed the bomb with a walk, and with one out Bannon singled to center. Connor Heady, who previously notched two base hits, drew a walk to load the bases. A high bouncer on the infield by Kevin LaChance brought in two, as a force out at second base was followed by a throwing error to first trying to finish the game with a double play. Hope and Bannon crossed on the play, but that was all Ogden would get as the game promptly ended on a strikeout.
Game five of seven straight between the teams takes place Wednesday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 P.M.