Stone strikes out 14, Ogden Raptors one-hit Idaho Falls to take series opener
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- Ogden Raptors pitcher Mitchell Stone fires a pitch against Idaho Falls on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors outfielder Reese Alexiades tracks down a fly ball against Idaho Falls on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors hitter Logan Williams swings at a pitch against Idaho Falls on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors pitcher Mitchell Stone fires a pitch against Idaho Falls on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors outfielder Cameron Phelts tracks down a flyout in the right-field corner against Idaho Falls on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors infielder Dakota Conners helps get an Idaho Falls player out via pickle on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Idaho Falls player Bryce Brown stumbles while getting out in a pickle against the Ogden Raptors on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors player Cameron Phelts runs to first against Idaho Falls on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors catcher Landen Barns runs to first on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors infielder Sal Gozzo lays down a bunt against Idaho Falls on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors players and staff line up for the national anthem on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Ogden Raptors hitter Nick Ultsch swings at a pitch against Idaho Falls on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
OGDEN — What stood between Mitchell Stone and a no-hit outing was a split-second play and call.
With two outs in the fifth inning, the Ogden Raptors starter painted just off the outside corner twice against Idaho Falls outfielder Bryce Brown leading up to a full-count offering. Brown then chopped a fastball to Sal Gozzo at shortstop, Gozzo’s quick fire to first was deftly picked out of the dirt on a short hop by Juan Teixeira and the umpire called Brown safe on what baseballers like to call a “bang-bang play.”
Other than that, Stone was untouchable Tuesday night at Lindquist Field. The right-hander allowed just that hit, struck out 14 and walked two over seven innings and the Raptors blanked the Chukars 5-0 in 2 hours, 23 minutes on a blustery night.
It was Brown that ended a perfect bid by drawing a walk to lead off the third. Otherwise, Stone retired Idaho Falls (5-8) in order in four of his seven frames. Jordan Myrow drew a walk in the seventh in an inning Stone otherwise struck out the side; he K’d Karl Koerper for the third time to end his outing, drawing a fist pump from catcher Landen Barns behind the plate.
Meanwhile, Ogden (8-5) had few troubles putting the ball in play against Idaho Falls starter Tyler Watt. Watt did strike out nine Raptors over 5 2/3 innings but Ogden tagged him for six doubles and a home run.
Teixeira doubled in his first three at-bats, finishing 3 for 3 with a walk. After Nick Ultsch and Cam Phelts singled in the bottom of the first, Teixeira doubled them home for a 2-0 lead.
Logan Williams and Teixeira traded doubles on consecutive pitches in the third inning, hit to the exact same location in left-center that one-hopped the wall, to push Williams across for a 3-0 score. Outfielder Reese Alexiades soon followed by cracking a two-run homer to right field.
That proved to be the final runs of the night thanks to Stone and company.
Idaho Falls didn’t much challenge Ogden’s defense, either; Alexiades ran down a well-hit liner in the right-center gap in the second inning and right fielder Cameron Phelts tracked a foul out all the way to the right-field corner, but those were the toughest plays with Stone on the mound. He gave way after seven frames due to his 114 pitches thrown.
Ed Baram took the mound for the Raptors in the eighth and needed a touch more leatherwork to keep the Chukars off the scoreboard. He walked the first two batters he faced, but Ogden ended the inning when Gozzo and Dakota Conners turned a tough double play up the middle.
Dan Kubiuk threw the ninth inning for the Raptors. He got help from Conners on a sizzling diving stop to his left for a groundout but otherwise struck out two, fanning Idaho Falls third baseman Zach May (his third K) to end the game.
Stone, Baram and Kubiuk combined to strike out 17 batters, allowing one hit and walking four.
Phelts, Rafael Narea and Nick Ultsch each totaled two hits at the plate for Ogden.
The pitching performance comes one game after Pablo Arevalo threw the Pioneer League’s first complete game this season to finish Ogden’s road series in Boise on Sunday with a win; that earned Arevalo pitcher of the week honors from the league.
The Raptors and Chukars continue their six-game series at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
TUESDAY SCORES
Ogden 5, Idaho Falls 0
Boise 19, Grand Junction 11
Northern Colorado 15, Rocky Mountain 7
Glacier 5, Billings 2
Great Falls 8, Missoula 7
PIONEER LEAGUE STANDINGS
Through June 6
NORTH DIVISION
Glacier 8-3
Missoula 8-5
Great Falls 5-6
Idaho Falls 5-8
Billings 3-10
SOUTH DIVISION
Boise 9-4
Northern Colorado 8-4
Ogden 8-5
Rocky Mountain 4-8
Grand Junction 4-9