PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Missoula Evens Series with Orem

Published on August 12, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


OREM, UTAH. - Two-run innings proved to be the key for Missoula on Tuesday night as the Osprey (30-19) plated a pair in the first, third, fourth and seventh en route to defeating the Orem Owlz (31-19) by a count of 8-3 from the Home of the OWLZ.

While the crooked innings provided the runs needed to win and even the three-game series, Bo Takahashi provided a quality start to claim the victory. The Brazilian right-hander dealt 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on six hits and a walk while striking out three to improve to 6-0 on the season. Missoula's bullpen, consisting of a trio of relievers on Tuesday night, turned in the final 3.0 scoreless innings, as Keegan Long, Gabriel Moya and Matt Lees each contributed one inning of work.

Each of the two through six hitters in the order notched multiple hits, with Austin Byler going 2-for-5 with a double and a homer. The round-tripper, a solo-shot in the seventh, was his 10th of the year, while the double was his Pioneer League-best 20th of the season.

Luke Lowery delivered the first two runs in the first inning with a two-RBI single that drove in Isan Diaz and Marcus Wilson. Diaz, who finished 1-for-5 with two runs scored to extend his road-hitting streak to 20 games, had reached on the first of four errors charged to the Owlz.

The Osprey extended the lead to 4-0 in the third before scoring twice more in the fourth to make it 6-0 headed to the bottom of the fourth. Jason Morozowski, who went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, drove in one of the runs in the third before a two-RBI single from Wilson brought home the two in the fourth.

The home half of the fourth inning proved to be the toughest for Takahashi, as Orem loaded the bases with nobody out. Takahashi got the next two hitters without allowing a run, but Alex Abbott made sure that the Owlz made good on the opportunity, shooting the first pitch of the next at bat down the right field line for a two-RBI double to get Orem on the board and cut the lead to 6-2.

Jared Foster made it a three-run game at 6-3 in the sixth inning, belting his third homer of the year over the wall in left field, but Missoula responded with two in the seventh, including one on Byler's 10th round-tripper of the year, to take the eventual victory at 8-3.

The Osprey will conclude the three-game series with Orem tomorrow night with the rubber game of the series. First pitch between LHP Bryant Holtmann (0-1, 6.94 ERA) and RHP Jose Rodriguez (2-1, 4.79 ERA) is scheduled for 7:15 pm MT.

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Pioneer League Stories from August 12, 2015


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