Osprey get past Voyagers 5-3
Published on July 30, 2011 under Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
GREAT FALLS Mont.--Jon Griffin blasted two home runs, leading the Osprey past Voyagers 5-3 in the second game of a three game series from Centene Stadium.
With a tie game in the fifth inning, Griffin's two-out single off of Peter Gehle (2-5) drove home Fidel Pena, the eventual winning run. In the eighth inning, Griffin added some insurance as he belted a solo home run to straight away center field--the deepest part of the park--a drive that earned a round of applause from the Voyagers faithful. That home run, his seventh of the season, was the second of two blasts for the first baseman. He began the scoring in the top of the first with a two-run home run off of Gehle.
For the first time all season, Gehle failed to go exactly five innings. He lasted just 4.2 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. The single he surrendered to Griffin knocked him out of the ballgame.
Jesse Darrah (3-0) collected the victory. The righty gave up three runs on three hits, striking out eight in his outing.
The Osprey bullpen contributed four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit. Conrad Flynn delivered three scoreless innings and D.J. Johnson (S, 3) threw a scoreless ninth.
The game ended on a close play at the plate. With Qualon Millender at second base and two outs, Kyle Eveland chopped a ball in front of second. Neither of the middle infielders for the Osprey played it cleanly. With the ball on the grass, Millender turned around third and tried to score when second baseman, Fidel Pena, fired home and, with Roidany Aguila blocking the plate, Millender was tagged out to end the game.
The Voyagers managed just four hits as a team, although they did draw five walks and were hit four times.
Joe De Pinto's single in the first inning brought home his team leading 29th RBI of the season. The second baseman, after having his 19-game on-base streak come to an end last night, reached three times. In addition to the single, he walked and was once hit by a pitch.
One night after gathering four hits, Millender went hitless, but did draw three walks, bringing his league-high total to 27.
The Voyagers bullpen threw 4.1 innings, giving up just one run--the eighth-inning home run by Griffin. Cody Winiarski pitched 1.1 scoreless innings, as he has now thrown 8.2 scoreless innings to begin his career.
Brandon Parrent, a left-handed pitcher selected in the 30th round in June, made his professional debut. After giving up a single to the first batter he faced, he got a fielder's choice ground out and then a double-play to complete his scoreless debut.
Still trying to rebound from a slow start, Stephen McCray threw two innings to close out the game. He made one mistake to Griffin, but that was the only hit he surrendered, striking out three in his performance.
The end of tonight's game marks the end of the first half. The Voyagers finish with a 17-21 record and the Osprey, first-half champions, end with a 25-13 mark.
The Voyagers and the Osprey conclude their series tomorrow night. Taylor Siemens (2-0) goes against Jarrett Casey (4-0). First pitch is at 1:00 p.m. with the pre-game starting at 12:35 on 560 KMON.
Pioneer League Stories from July 30, 2011
- Chukars Finish 1st Half with 7-2 Victory - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Osprey get past Voyagers 5-3 - Great Falls Voyagers
- Chukars Rally Past Raptors in 8-4 Win - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Owlz Move Into 1st Place Tie With 8-5 Win - Northern Colorado Owlz
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