Osprey Fall Short in 10-7 Slugfest; Robinson Hits 2 HRs in Loss
August 24, 2018 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
MISSOULA, MT - The Missoula Osprey and Grand Junction Rockies brought a bunch of offense to Ogren Park Allegiance Field on Thursday night as the two teams combined for 17 runs and 7 homeruns in the Rockies 10-7 win in the series finale. Osprey CF Kristian Robinson got his first two homeruns as an Osprey and drove home four in the loss. Missoula failed to gain a game in the standings on first place Billings, who also lost, and remain just two games back in the Pioneer League North.
The offensive night got started with Grand Junction scoring first with solo run innings in the 1st and 3rd . In the 1st, the Rockies loaded the bases and a CF Daniel Montano walked to force in a run. In the 3rd, Grand Junction 2B Hunter Stovall led off the inning with a triple and scored on SS Coco Montes' sac fly.
The Osprey bats woke up in the bottom of the 4th as SS Blaze Alexander singled with one out for Missoula's first knock of the game. DH Zac Almond then walked. 1B Zack Shannon promptly singled off the wall in right to drive home Alexander and send Almond to third. Osprey CF Kristian Robinson then ignited the crowd with a towering 3-run homerun to left to give Missoula their first lead at 4-2.
That lead didn't last long as the Rockies turned the tables on the Osprey with a 4-run inning of their own in the very next at bat. All four runs were via the long ball as Stovall led off with a solo shot and 3B John Cresto added a 3-run homerun to make it 6-4 Rockies. Missoula scraped another run in the bottom of the 5th on a RBI groundout by LF Alek Thomas to close it to a 1-run game.
The Rockies took control of the game for good in the 6th as Montes belted a 2-run homer and was followed immediately by RF Niko Decolati's solo homerun to make it 9-5. Robinson got his second of the game, a solo shot, in the bottom half of the inning, but the Rockies got that one back in the 7th on LF Will Goslan's RBI single. The Osprey scored their final run of the night in the 8th on Shannon's league leading 14th homerun of the year. Missoula rallied later in the 8th and in the 9th with some baserunners, but couldn't get any closer than the 10-7 final.
After an off day on Friday, the Osprey hit the road for a brief 3-game series at Great Falls Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The Osprey return home for a huge 4-game series next week against the 1st place Billings Mustangs. The series begins on Tuesday, August 28th and runs through Friday, August 31st . Tickets are on sale now at the MSO Hub in downtown Missoula or by visiting the Osprey at www.missoulaosprey.com.
Pioneer League Stories from August 24, 2018
- Brewers Squeak out Series Opener, 2-1 - Billings Mustangs
- Brewers Ground Owlz with Extra Inning Walk Off - Helena Brewers
- Owlz Clipped in Extras by Brewers, 5-4 - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Raptors Hang on After Fifth Inning Comeback - Ogden Raptors
- Chukars Win 3 of 4 vs Billings - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Home Runs Leads to 10-7 Win - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Ogden Earns Series Split with Voyagers - Great Falls Voyagers
- Osprey Fall Short in 10-7 Slugfest; Robinson Hits 2 HRs in Loss - Missoula PaddleHeads
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