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Missoula PaddleHeads

Osprey Bury Rockies, Losing Streak

August 14, 2013 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT. -- The Missoula Osprey not only ended their six-game losing streak, they crushed it.

The O's returned to the win column in a big way on Tuesday night, routing the Grand Junction Rockies 12- 3 at Ogren Park Allegiance. The win came in the Osprey's first home game after a difficult road trip that had dropped Missoula five games under .500 in the 2nd Half of Pioneer League season.

Starting pitcher Adam Miller set the tone by retiring the side in the top of the 1st on only seven pitches. The right-hander went on to throw seven strong innings - matching the longest outing of his career - to earn his first professional victory. Miller allowed only two earned runs on five hits in the longest performance by an O's starter since Felipe Perez logged seven innings back on August 4th.

Missoula's offense got started early as well. Daniel Palka's two -run single in the bottom of the 1st gave the O's a quick 2 -0 lead, and after Grand Junction reached Miller for a run in the top of the 4th the Osprey answered in the 5th.

Singles by Palka and Jose Queliz put two men on ahead of Stryker Trahan, who crushed the first pitch from Rockies' starter Zach Jemiola for a three -run home run to straightaway center for a 5-1 lead. It was Trahan's fifth homer of the season.

Grand Junction scored another run in the top of the 6th to get within 5-2, but the score didn't stay close for long. Missoula scored six times in the bottom of the inning to turn the contest into a rout.

Yorman Garcia led off with a double off the wall in right, and came around to score on a two-base throwing error by RF Ryan Garvey. Chuck Taylor singled and Antonio Alvarez walked, and two batters later Jake Mayers laced an RBI double into the left field corner for a 7-2 lead.

Queliz followed with a two-run double down the right field line, and Jake Miller capped the rally with a rocket-shot two-run homer to left for an 11-2 advantage.

Missoula got its final run on Garcia's fielder's choice grounder in the bottom of the 8th. Grand Junction tacked on a run in the top of the 9th on Jordan Patterson's solo homer off Silvino Bracho - it was the first home run allowed by the Osprey closer over 39 appearances and 46.2 career innings.

Taylor paced Missoula's 15 -hit attack by going 4-6 with two runs scored. Palka, Queliz and Trahan added two hits each. For Queliz, his 5th inning single off Jemiola snapped an 0-20 slump that had knocked 56 points off his batting average.

The Osprey and Rockies play the second game of their four-game series on Wednesday night, with first pitch at 7:05 pm at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Montana 97.5 beginning at 6:45. Streaming audio is available at missoulaosprey.com.

Tickets are available at the MSO Hub Box Office at 140 North Higgins Avenue in downtown Missoula, over the phone at (406) 543-3300, and online at missoulaosprey.com.

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