Osprey Drop Third Straight
Published on July 18, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
IDAHO FALLS, IDAHO - Although they won the regular-season series over Idaho Falls by winning the first four games of the seven-game series, the Missoula Osprey (15-12) suffered a road series sweep at the hands of the Chukars (10-19) as Idaho Falls took the finale by a score of 13-4 on Friday night from Melalueca Field.
With the loss, the O's have now lost three straight overall and four straight on the road - both season highs.
Missoula is also 5-10 when the opponent scores first, including 0-6 when the opponent scores first in a road game, as Idaho Falls plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a lead and never looked back. A sacrifice fly from Josh Banuelos preceded an RBI-single from Roman Collins to bring in the two first-inning runs.
The home team extended the lead to 4-0 after three innings by way of a run in the second and third before Missoula got on the board with one run in the fifth. Hitting with two out, Austin Byler singled into left field before coming around to score on an RBI-double from Luke Lowery. The hit from Byler was the second of two on the night, as he also doubled in the first en route to going 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk.
The Chukars used a pair of big innings down the stretch to put the game away, beginning with a four-run bottom of the sixth. Amalani Fukofuka, who finished 3-for-5 with a double, plated two of the four in the sixth on a bases-loaded single into left field before Banuelos punched in another with his lone hit of the night.
The Osprey cut the deficit to four runs at 8-4 by way of a three-run top of the eighth, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Jason Morozowski, but Idaho Falls punched back with five more of their own in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach at 13-4. Ryan Dale contributed the big blow in the eighth, belting a three-run homer over the wall in left for his first round-tripper of the year.
Right-hander Dallas Newton was charged with the loss for the O's after tossing the first 4.0 innings and allowing four runs on four hits and three walks with four strikeouts. The decision dropped Newton to 0-2 on the year. Alberto Rodriguez earned the victory in relief for Idaho Falls, tossing 2.1 scoreless frames as the first out of the bullpen. The victory was Rodriguez' second of the season.
Missoula will open a four-game road series at Ogden tomorrow night. First pitch between RHP Bo Takahashi (4-0, 2.76 ERA) and LHP Michael Boyle (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled for 7:00 pm MT.
Pioneer League Stories from July 18, 2015
- Walk off Home Run Sends Owlz to Defeat - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Ferguson's Four Hits Lead Rockies over Mustangs - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Gatewood Walks off for Brewers Win - Helena Brewers
- Brewers Pitching Shuts Down Rockies - Helena Brewers
- Voyagers Game Notes: July 18 at Idaho Falls - Great Falls Voyagers
- Raptors Walk-Off Voyagers 5-4 - Ogden Raptors
- Chukars Wallop, Sweep Missoula - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Osprey Drop Third Straight - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Owlz Get Back on Winning Track in Doubleheader Wins - Northern Colorado Owlz
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