Voyagers Hammer Osprey; Regain Wild Card Lead
August 30, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
GREAT FALLS, Mont. - Johan Cruz and Dante Flores each had three hits and combined for seven RBIs, as the Great Falls Voyagers routed the Missoula Osprey 11-4 Saturday night at Centene Stadium to go back in front of Billings by a half game in the race for the second Pioneer League North playoff spot.
After Missoula starter Junior Garcia (2-1) struck out the side in the first, Great Falls (14-15, 31-34) erupted for six against the lefty in the second. Casey Schroeder got the scoring started for the Voyagers, doubling home Antonio Rodriguez. Jake Jarvis added an RBI, before Nick Parent and Frank Califano put together consecutive run-producing knocks. Flores then capped the inning with an opposite field two-run homer, his second in as many nights.
In the fourth it was Cruz's turn to take Garcia deep, as the 19-year old added a two-run home run of his own to make it 8-0 Great Falls.
Eight runs was more than enough for Voyager starter Lucas Shearrow (2-3), as the righty retired the first nine Osprey (15-13, 38-27) that he faced on the night. Missoula's first run off of him came after an error, with Matt Railey tripling in a run in the fifth.
The visitors added another against Shearrow in the sixth, ending the right-hander's night after a season-high five and one-third innings. The 24-year old struck out a career-high tying five, and collected his first win as a starter this season for his efforts.
The Voyager offense tacked on their final three of the night in the home half of the fifth. Flores tripled in a pair, tying his career-high with three knocks, and setting a new career-high with four runs batted in. He then came home on an RBI single by Cruz, his third hit of the contest.
The Great Falls win and the Billings loss to Helena brings both teams into a tie for second place in the second half standings, one and a half games behind the Osprey. The Voyagers also go a half game in front of the Mustangs in the wild card chase.
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