Four-Run Seventh Snaps Four-Game Win Streak
Published on July 3, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
GREAT FALLS, MONT. - A four-run seventh inning broke a 4-4 tie and handed Great Falls (8-5) an 8-5 victory over the Missoula Osprey (9-6) on Thursday night from Ogren Park Allegiance Field. The loss, the first in three games against the Voyagers, snapped a four-game win streak for the Osprey.
The Voyagers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead off of starter Dallas Newton, scoring an unearned run in the first and two more runs in the second. Missoula committed two of its three errors on the first two plays of the game, pushing the first run across, before a two-RBI single from Dante Flores brought home both runs in the second.
Newton, who did not factor in the decision, threw 5.0 innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out two.
As they have done all year, the Osprey never lost their will to fight, scoring three times in the third to draw even at 3-3. All three runs were unearned as starter Tanner Banks got the first two hitters before second baseman Jake Jarvis committed the first of two Great Falls errors to keep the inning alive. The O's made the error count as Isan Diaz punched a single up the middle and extended the inning for Jason Morozowski. The right-handed hitting right fielder wasted no time cashing in on the RBI-opportunity, shooting the gap in left centerfield for a two-RBI triple. The three-bagger was followed one pitch later by a Luke Lowery RBI-double, tying the game at three runs apiece.
Morozowski finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, two RBI and a run scored.
Tied at five, the two teams traded a run in the fifth. A costly two-out error charged to Flores at second base allowed Great Falls to score in the top of the inning, but the Osprey took advantage of an error from Great Falls en route to scoring once in the home half. Flores led off the inning with one of his two doubles on the night before moving to third on an errant throw from left field, setting the table for a sacrifice fly from Joey Armstrong.
The game stayed tied into the seventh, but a four-run seventh inning, highlighted by two-RBI singles from Sikes Orvis and Victor Velasquez, proved too much for the O's to overcome on Thursday. The singles were the lone hits on the night for each player, but they came in an opportune time for the visitors.
Bryant Holtmann, who was on the mound in the sixth and seventh innings for Missoula, was tagged with the loss and fell to 0-1 after allowing four runs on four hits and four walks over 1.2 innings of work.
Drew Hasler was the benefactor of the four-run seventh, earning the victory and moving to 1-0 after throwing 2.0 innings and allowing one run on a walk and two hits with two strikeouts. Danny Dopico tossed the final 2.0 innings for Great Falls, striking out a pair over the two scoreless frames to record his first save of the year.
Missoula will continue the short two-game home series with Great Falls tomorrow at 6:35 pm MT. RHP Bo Takahashi (3-0, 1.42 ERA) will toe the rubber for Missoula opposite RHP Brannon Easterling (1-0, 2.25 ERA) for Great Falls. The Osprey will host its second Fireworks Extravaganza following the game tomorrow night as part of the Fourth of July weekend. Tickets are available at the MSO Hub Box Office at 140 North Higgins Avenue in downtown Missoula, over the phone at (406) 543-3300.
Pioneer League Stories from July 3, 2015
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