OREM — The Orem Owlz and Ogden Raptors are two teams who seem to be going in the same direction — downward — as they enter the stretch run to the playoffs. Heading into Thursday night's game, Orem dropped four straight and Ogden came into Brown Ballpark losers of 14-of-17.
Despite those recent performances, one club had to win and it was Ogden who took the game 5-3 after 11 innings. The Raptors finally were able to break through late for once this season after sporting an 0-35 record in 2007 being down after seven innings. Ogden's win (11-19 second-half; 28-39 overall) cuts Orem's (15-15; 32-36) lead for a playoff spot to 3 1/2 games with eight remaining, five of which are games against one another.
The winning run for the Raptors came from an Elian Herrera home run to left that just made it over the fence. Matthew Wallach, son of former major-leaguer Tim Wallach, added another from a line-drive single to right.
Ogden scored three in the ninth to take the game into extra innings. Erik Kanaby tied the game on an RBI single. Jovanny Rosario looked to hit into the final out earlier in the frame that would have given the Owlz the victory, but a bobble by Orem reliever Ryan Brazier trying to make the play at first let Rosario reach safely and cut the deficit to one. Jaime Ortiz's long double to the center-field fence scored Travis Vetters from first to start the rally.
Ogden's attempt at an earlier comeback in the sixth was shut down by Orem starter Jordan Walden after it loaded the bases with three singles. Walden struck out the next two Ogden batters using a mix of 100-mile-per-hour fastballs and a devastating slider to keep his run sheet clean and get out of trouble.
Long balls by the Owlz in the fourth gave them their three-run cushion heading into the ninth. Jay Brossman and Julio Perez both went deep in one of the few blemishes for Raptors pitcher Robert Blevins.
Anel De Los Santos RBI single got Orem on the board in the third.
The second game of the three-game series continues tonight at 7 p.m. in Orem.