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 Missoula PaddleHeads

Voyagers Escape with Victory

September 4, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT. - The Missoula Osprey (41-29) put the tying run aboard in each of the final three innings, but the Great Falls Voyagers (33-37) held firm and kept the O's off the board en route to recording a 3-2 victory in the final regular-season home game for the Osprey from Ogren Park Allegiance Field on Friday night.

Both teams scored a run in the first inning as the Voyagers showed an ability to hit with two out early in the game. After Osprey starter Junior Garcia retired the first two in the opening frame, three straight singles from Johan Cruz, Antonio Rodriguez and Corey Zangari pushed the first run of the game across.

Cruz finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Rodriguez was 2-for-5.

Missoula wasted no time drawing back even, as Jason Morozowski belted his sixth homer of the year with two out in the bottom of the first to run the tally to 1-1 after one.

Another two-out rally handed Great Falls a lead it would not relinquish in the third inning, as Cruz once again contributed a single to get the ball rolling. Rodriguez followed with a double down the right field line before a walk to Zangari loaded the bases with two down. Garcia struck out Jackson Glines on the ensuing play, but a passed ball charged to Francis Christy behind the plate allowed the go-ahead unearned run to come home and put Garcia in line for the loss.

Missoula reliever Cameron Smith entered in the fourth and dealt 3.0 quality innings, but he was also charged with an unearned run when Matt Railey dropped a two-out fly ball in left that allowed Glines to come home all the way from first base. Glines had previously reached on a one-out walk, as Smith walked one and struck out four over his three frames.

The Osprey had a golden opportunity to at least tie the game in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with one out, but they settled for just one run as Luke Lowery hit into a double play in front of a fly ball from Christy to end the inning.

With the game showing a 3-2 lead for Great Falls, leadoff walks in the seventh and eighth innings for Missoula provided them a few more promising opportunities. Unfortunately, the Voyager bullpen worked around the free passes and kept the O's off the board.

Alex Katz dealt the final 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, stranding the speedy Matt McPhearson at second base in the bottom of the ninth, to convert his third save of the year.

Lucas Shearrow, who tossed 5.0 innings and allowed just one run on five hits with two strikeouts, earned the victory and moved to 3-3, while Garcia was charged with the loss and fell to 2-2.

The Osprey will return to action tomorrow when they travel to Great Falls for a 7:00 pm MT first pitch.


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