The Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League have taken over first place in the league following a 7-1 victory over the Orem Owlz yesterday. The Raptors swept the four game series with the Owlz and now have beaten them seven times in their last eight meetings.

The Idaho Falls Chukars, who had been in first place for most of the month of August, lost 9-8 to the last place Grand Junction Rockies and fell one game behind the Raptors who are now 20-4 since the All-Star break.

Left-hander Jairo Pacheco, who turned 19 on July 6th, pitched five innings in which he gave up only three hits and one run, a home run to Owlz first baseman Jeff Boehm. Pacheco walked two hitters in the first inning but wiggled out of the inning unscathed when he picked off Franklin Torres at first base and was helped out again when catcher Gersel Pitre threw out Jared Foster attempting to steal second base.

Pacheco is now 7-3 on the season which ties him for the most wins in the Pioneer League. He has given up only one run in 11 innings over his last two starts.

Raptors relievers Colin Hering, MJ Villegas and Clint Freeman followed Pacheco with four scoreless innings. Interestingly enough both Hering and Freeman were position players in 2014 – Hering an outfielder and Freeman primarily a first baseman.

Pacheco (7-3) is now tied for the most wins in the Pioneer League after allowing just one run in five innings to win in his third straight start. The only run he surrendered was a solo home run to Jeff Boehm in the fourth inning.

Catcher Gersel Pitre, who also turned 19 in July, has now thrown out nine of 15 base runners attempting to steal against the Raptors.

Offensively the Raptors continued to rake having scored 35 runs in their last four games. Center fielder Gage Green had another 2-hit game as did right fielder Michael Medina, DH Scott De Jong, third baseman Edwin Rios and shortstop Kelvin Ramos.

Left fielder Jordan Paroubeck had three hits including a monster shot in the sixth inning scoring Gage Green in front of him. It was Paroubeck’s second long home run in his last two games. Raptors announcer Robbie Bullough told Paroubeck in his post game interview that his two home runs together measured 903 feet. His home run on Sunday measured 446 feet while his blast on Monday was even further at 457 feet.

Paroubeck’s last two home runs have been almost Joc Pederson-like.
(Photo credit – Briana Scroggins)

In his post game interview Paroubeck indicated he was more of a gap-to-gap hitter and was just sitting on the pitch on Monday and got the fast ball he wanted in the location he wanted.

Manager John Shoemaker spoke highly of his top two batters in his lineup.

“Sometimes you cannot estimate what is inside a player – the intangibles,” said Shoemaker. “[Green] is really doing a great job for us. This guy has solidified the top of our batting order. He’s played really well in center field. When we need a big hit, it seems like he is getting it.”

“Great bat speed, that’s what is going to give you power,” Shoemaker said of Paroubeck’s home run. “When the opposition makes mistakes and he hits the ball, it can go a long way.”

The Raptors have eight games remaining in their 2015 schedule with the last six against the last place Grand Junction Rockies, who played the role of spoilers against the Idaho falls Chukars in their most recent series.

However, the next two games are all important. The Raptors start a two-game series in Idaho Falls against the Chukars today. They were swept by the Chukars in a four-game set going into the All-Star break, while on the season they are now 6-7 against Idaho Falls, having won both games in their latest two match up in late August.

Right-handers Adam Bray and Chris Powell will start the games against the Chukars.

The Raptors are again leading the league in attendance and are most definitely rewarding their fans for their loyalty with some exciting playoff style baseball.