Ogden Raptors open home series with 5-2 win over Billings Mustangs
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- Raptors third baseman Landen Barns (35) tags Billings center fielder Brendan Ryan too late during the first inning of Tuesday’s matchup on June 11, 2024, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Raptors starter Guillermo Cuevas fires in a pitch during a home matchup vs. the Billings Mustangs on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Raptors outfielder Jack Cone waits for a pitch before heading to second base during a home matchup against the Billings Mustangs on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Raptors starter Guillermo Cuevas fires a pitch during a home matchup against the Billings Mustangs on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Raptors outfielder Jack Cone, right, slides safely into second base as Billings shortstop Blake Evans applies a tag on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
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- Raptors starter Guillermo Cuevas looks to the sky after a called third strike during a home matchup against the Billings Mustangs on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at Lindquist Field in Ogden.
OGDEN — Despite a few bumps, the Ogden Raptors held back the Billings Mustangs on the way to a 5-2 victory Tuesday night at Lindquist Field, the first in a six-game home series.
Starting left-hander Guillermo Cuevas allowed two runs on five hits in four innings. He committed three balks in his start, all of which led directly to the two runs he allowed, but Cuevas had good command of his ball by striking out seven and walking two.
Brendan Ryan scored on a Cuevas balk in the first inning and catcher Isaac Lovings, after advancing on two balks, plated on an RBI groundout in the fourth for the two Billings (10-9) runs.
Ogden (7-12), winners in six of its last eight, answered the visitors’ opening run in the bottom half of the first. Outfielder Jack Cone hit a leadoff single and first baseman Chris Sargent drove him, singling up the middle with two outs.
The rest of the Raptors’ runs came in the bottom of the fourth. Third baseman Landen Barns led off with a double and tied the game 2-2 when scoring on a single from outfielder Nick Ultsch.
Outfielder Pearce Howard doubled in Ultsch, designated hitter Connor Bagnieski singled in Sargent, and Howard scored on a double-play groundout to put Ogden ahead 5-2.
Raptors pitchers ran into some jams but ultimately held Billings to an 0-for-10 mark with runners in scoring position.
With Shane Gustafson on the mound for Ogden, Ryan led off the fifth inning with a double. With runners on second and third, Gustafson covered first on a groundout to Sargent to end the threat.
Gustafson struck out two and the Ryan double was the lone hit he allowed in two innings, earning him the win.
Reliever Christian Griffin ran into the same jam in the seventh inning. Griffin hit Ryan with a pitch and walked Travis Holt, and both later stole second and third. With two outs, Griffin induced a flyout to left field to end the inning.
Right-hander Brayden Bonner — an alum of Utah’s Cottonwood High School who recently joined the Raptors and had a two-game stint in Ogden last season — pitched the eighth inning. While giving up a two-out rocket to Billings outfielder Jason Rooks that missed clearing the centerfield wall by 1 foot, he retired the side otherwise.
Lefty closer Quinn Waterhouse quickly cleaned up the ninth after walking the leadoff hitter, totaling his fourth save.
Ogden batted 4 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
The Raptors handed Billings starter Luke Trueman the loss by stringing together four of its eight hits in the fourth inning. Trueman went seven innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven and walking one.
The two teams play again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
ROSTER MOVES
Though roster moves have been tough to track through the Pioneer League’s website, as transactions are updated only once every 4-5 days, Ogden has made a few changes in the past week.
The Raptors waived Clearfield native and left-handed pitcher Chase Stratton, and Idaho Falls claimed him off waivers.
Bagnieski, one of a few bright spots in the otherwise rough 2-10 start, was reactivated off the 10-day injured list and, as reported in previous game stories, the team signed 2023 Boise outfielder Kenny Oyama.
Tyler Clark-Chiapparelli, who started at shortstop on opening night before being injured, was waived on June 2.