PL Missoula PaddleHeads

O's Drop Opener to Billings

Published on July 31, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT. - The offense managed a season-low-tying four hits while Cameron Smith allowed four runs and took a loss for the first time this year as the Missoula Osprey (24-16) dropped a 6-3 decision to the Billings Mustangs (19-21) on Thursday night from Ogren Park Allegiance Field.

Austin Byler had a big a day for the Osprey in the loss, registering two of the four hits, including a solo homer in the first to get the scoring started. The native of Peoria, Ariz. would later add a double, running his total to a Pioneer League-high 18. The homer was his fifth of the year and extended his hitting streak to 13 games.

Leading 1-0 headed to the fourth, the Osprey allowed two runs all with two out in the inning. Kevin Franklin connected for his third homer of the year, a solo-shot, to tie the game before a single from Tyler Stephenson was followed by an RBI-double off the bat of Jonathan Martijn to hand Billings a 2-1 lead.

As it has done so many times this year, Missoula punched right back in the home half of the fourth, scoring two runs of its own to reclaim a one-run lead at 3-2. The O's loaded the bases with nobody out before getting an RBI-groundout from Francis Christy and an RBI-single from Matt Jones to plate the runs.

Unfortunately for the Osprey, Carlos Machorro entered with two out and the bases loaded in the fourth, retiring the final man in the inning en route to tossing 3.1 scoreless innings of relief and allowing just one more hit along the way.

The one-run advantage held for the Osprey all the way into the seventh, but Smith ran into trouble in that inning, allowing four runs on three hits, including an RBI-double from Dalton Carlton and a three-run homer off the bat of Hector Vargas.

Vargas finished the game 2-for-5 with the homer and a double, catapulting Macharro to his first victory of the year on the mound.

After Sarkis Ohanian tossed a scoreless eighth inning of relief, Jake Johnson entered in the ninth and closed the door on the Osprey. The right-hander dealt a 1-2-3 frame, including striking out two, to convert his first save of the season.

Missoula will continue the four-game series with the Mustangs tomorrow at 7:05 pm MT.

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Pioneer League Stories from July 31, 2015


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