Raptors Walk-Off With Win
OGDEN - Ogden Raptors designated hitter Justin Chigbogu scored the winning run in a 10-9 win over the Grand Junction Rockies in 10 innings Saturday night at Lindquist Field.
With one out in the top of the 10th, Chigbogu laced a base hit to left field. Julian Leon followed with a double down the left-field line to put runners at second and third. Pinch hitter Brian Wolfe then walked to load the bases. Jacob Scavuzzo then hit a grounder to third base that was booted by Wesley Jones, allowing Chigbogu to score on the error and the Raptors to win 10-9.
The two teams traded leads throughout the game, starting with the Rockies (16-10, 39-25) getting on the board in the second inning. Henry Garcia started the inning with a single to center. Dom Nunez followed with a two-run homer to right, his eighth of the season.
The Raptors (14-11, 29-34) then took the lead with three runs in the fourth. Chigbogu began the inning with a home run to right field, his league-leading 18th of the season.
Chigbogu's homer tied him with 2009's Brian Cavazos-Galvez for the most home runs by a Raptor in a season.
After Chigbogu's homer, Rockies starter James Lomangino struck out the next two hitters. Scavuzzo then drew a walk, and Colin Hering singled to left. After a passed ball moved runners to second and third, Mike Ahmed delivered a two-run single to center to give the Raptors the lead, 3-2.
Ogden gave the lead right back in the fifth. Luis Castro singled to right and moved to second on a wild pitch two batters later. Wes Rogers then hit a line drive to shortstop that went off the glove of Ivan Vela and put runners on the corners on the error. Once Rogers stole second base, Forrest Wall hit a two-run single to center to put Grand Junction ahead again 4-3.
The Rockies extended their lead in the sixth. Nunez and Yonathan Daza started the sixth with singles. Jones then dropped down a bunt. Ogden reliever Francisco Martinez fell as he threw to first and it got by Cody Bellinger for an error. Nunez and Daza scored, and Jones ended up on second. Luis Jean then also attempted a bunt. Again, Martinez fell while trying to throw to third and the ball got by Ahmed, allowing Jones scored on the error and extending Grand Junction's lead to 7-3.
The Raptors and Rockies traded runs with Scavuzzo driving in Vela on a single in the sixth, and Nunez doubling in Garcia in the seventh.
Down 8-4, the Raptors started their comeback. Ahmed and Billy Bereszniewicz started the eighth by reaching on consecutive errors. Jimmy Allen then grounded to third, and Jones missed a tag on Ahmed to load the bases. Bellinger then hit a grand slam to right off Yoely Bello to tie the game, 8-8.
The grand slam was the first for the Raptors since Jesus Valdez hit one against Grand Junction on Sept. 4 of last season. The grand slam was also the first home run allowed by Bello, one of the best left-handed relievers, this season. It was also just the third hit allowed to a left-handed batter in 39 at bats.
Chigbogu followed Bellinger's slam with a walk and moved to third on two groundouts. Scavuzzo then doubled off the wall in left field, scoring Chigbogu and putting Ogden up 9-8.
The Rockies re-tied the game in the top of the ninth with back-to-back doubles by Rogers and Wall. After a scoreless bottom of the ninth, the game was tied 9-9 going to extra innings.
Bernardo Reyes (1-5) threw a perfect tenth to set up the game-winner in the bottom half.
Taylor Black (3-1) received the loss after pitching the final 2.1 innings and giving up the game-winning run in the 10th inning.
The walk-off win was the first for the Raptors since Joey Curletta hit a game-winning single against Idaho Falls in the first game of a doubleheader on June 25, 2013.
Scavuzzo finished 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI on the night.
The Raptors and Rockies finish their two-game series Sunday. Right-hander J.D. Underwood (4-4, 6.65) takes the mound for Ogden against Grand Junction lefty Sam Howard (1-3, 5.84). Game starts at 4:00 and can be heard on 97.5 The Zone.