PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Abreu, Diaz Homer in Victory

August 18, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT. - Mike Abreu and Isan Diaz each homered, and the Missoula Osprey (33-21) held off a ninth-inning rally en route to defeating the Orem Owlz (34-21) by a count of 5-2 on Monday night from Ogren Park Allegiance Field.

Abreu connected for his first career home run in the third inning, lacing a solo-shot out to left field to put the Osprey on the board. Back-to-back doubles from Diaz and Marcus Wilson kept the inning going before Luke Lowery delivered an RBI-single in front of a sacrifice fly from Austin Byler as the O's extended the lead to 3-0 after three.

Kal Simmons served as Missoula's fourth run of the game after he tripled and scored on an RBI-groundout from Matt McPhearson in the fourth, pushing the advantage to 4-0.

Missoula's final run of the game came off the bat of Diaz, who belted a solo-homer, his eighth home run of the year, to the opposite field to help LMU to a 5-0 lead after five.

Diaz finished the game 4-for-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and an RBI while hitting out of the leadoff spot.

The Osprey also received an outstanding pitching performance from starter Bo Takahashi. The right-hander dealt the first 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks while striking out four to improve to 7-0 on the season. Missoula is now 10-1 in Takahashi's starts this year.

The O's used four relievers on Monday night, beginning with Matt Lees who struck out the only batter he faced to retire the side in the sixth. Austin Mason followed and allowed only a home run to Brendon Sanger over his 1.1 innings, as Orem cut the deficit to 5-2. Following the home run, Missoula elected to call the bullpen and summon Gabriel Moya, as the lefty went the next 0.2 innings of scoreless relief before turning the ball over to the closer Dan Savas.

Savas ran into some trouble in the ninth, but ultimately completed a scoreless final frame to record his 13th save of the year. Orem managed to load the bases with nobody out in that ninth inning, but Savas induced a ground ball to third where the out was recorded at the plate before he struck out Sanger and current batting champion Michael Pierson to end the game and strand the bags loaded.

Missoula will continue the seven-game home stand tomorrow when it continues the four-game series with Orem at 7:05 pm MT.

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