Four Homers Not Enough for Voyagers
Published on July 3, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
MISSOULA, Mont. - The Great Falls Voyagers hit a season-high four homers but could not hold a 7-1 lead, falling 9-7 to the Missoula Osprey Friday night at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.
Leading 7-3 entering the eighth, Great Falls (8-6) looked to be in good shape. The bullpen struggled to throw strikes however, with the combination of Braulio Ortiz and Mike Gomez (1-1) issuing three walks and hitting one batter to give Missoula (10-6) their first run of the frame and loading the bases.
Matt Jones doubled in a pair to get the home team within one, then pinch-hitter Joey Armstrong singled to tie the game, with Antonio Rodriguez throwing the potential go-ahead run out at the plate. The Osprey were not to be denied their comeback however, as Isan Diaz doubled in the winning runs with two outs.
Missoula turned to closer Dan Savas in the ninth, and after a one-out walk, the righty induced a game-ending double play to earn his fifth save of the season and slam the door on the Voyagers.
After the Osprey started the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first, the Voyagers answered with the first of their four long balls. Nick Parent led the inning off with a solo homer off Bo Takahashi, the first baseman's first home run of his pro career.
Great Falls then took the lead in the fourth on another homer. This time it was Jake Jarvis hitting a lead-off homer to put the visitors up by a run. Later in the frame, Jackson Glines doubled to pick up his first career RBI, pushing the lead to two.
The lead doubled in the fifth as it was Rodriguez's turn to go deep. The right fielder hit a two-run shot just inside the foul pole in right for his second homer of 2015. The fourth and final homer of the night was also a two-run blast, as Parent put Great Falls up 7-1in the sixth with his second of the game, becoming the first Voyager with a multi-homer game this year.
The Osprey pulled one back in the home half in what was Brannon Eastlering's final frame of the night. The righty turned in his second quality start of 2015, allowing two runs in six frames, and retiring 11 in a row and 15 of 16 at one point.
The Voyagers and Osprey shift their series back to Great Falls for the weekend, as they begin a two-game set at Centene Stadium on Saturday. Left-hander Zack Erwin (2-0, 0.00) will take the mound for Great Falls, while Missoula will counter with fellow southpaw Anfernee Benitez (0-1, 7.94). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and coverage will begin at 6:45 on 1400 AM KXGF and gfvoyagers.com.
Pioneer League Stories from July 3, 2015
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- Osprey Score Six in Eighth, Come Back to Beat Voyagers 9-7 - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Four Homers Not Enough for Voyagers - Great Falls Voyagers
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