PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Bats Back Strong Benitez Start

July 21, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


OGDEN, UTAH - Starter Anfernee Benitez struck out a career-high 11 batters over 5.2 innings of work and the Osprey bats backed the outing with 10 runs on 11 hits as the Missoula Osprey (18-12) defeated the Ogden Raptors (15-17) by a count of 10-6 on Monday from Ogden's Lindquist Field.

Benitez, who eclipsed his prior career high of eight strikeouts set on June 4, 2012 in the Dominican Summer League, recorded eight of the first 11 outs via the strikeout. The left-hander improved to 1-2 on the season after surrendering just one unearned run on six hits and two walks over the 5.2 innings.

Offensively, Luke Lowery and Austin Byler contributed a pair of three-run homers to help guide Missoula to victory. Lowery blasted his three-run shot, his seventh of the year, in the first inning, while Byler connected for his fourth of the season in the four-run fifth. Already leading 8-0 headed to the sixth, the Osprey added two more in the inning, highlighted by RBI-singles from Lowery and Jason Morozowski, to claim a 10-0 headed to the bottom of the sixth.

Lowery finished the game 2-for-2 with the homer, three runs scored, two walks and three RBI, and is now 6-for-6 with six runs scored, two doubles, a homer and four RBI over his last two games played. Byler collected a three-hit night, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI hitting out of the cleanup spot. He has now posted a double in four straight games, and his hit safely in 15 of his last 17 overall.

Trailing 10-0 headed into the bottom of the sixth, Ogden managed to make things interesting late, scoring an unearned run in the sixth, three more in the eighth and two in the ninth to run the final score to 10-6. Cody Clark, who allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk over the final 1.1 innings of relief, did manage to finally close the door in that ninth inning, striking out Gage Green for the third time on the night to lock up the victory.

Missoula will look for a sweep of Ogden in the four-game road series tomorrow night. First pitch between RHP Yefrey Ramirez (2-0, 2.89 ERA) and LHP Jairo Pacheco (2-2, 4.10 ERA) is scheduled for 7:00 pm MT.

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