PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Osprey Gift Mather 12-1 Victory on Birthday

July 23, 2016 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT. - Playing game three of a four-game series against Ogden on Osprey Manager Joe Mather's 34th birthday, the O's (13-21) pounded out 12 runs on 13 hits, received a stellar pitching performance from right-hander Connor Grey, and turned a season-best five double plays en route to posting a 12-1 victory over the Raptors (16-18) on Saturday night from Ogren Park Allegiance Field.

Grey, who improved to 4-1 with the victory, dealt 6.2 scoreless frames, allowing just four hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Missoula is now 6-1 in games started by Grey this season.

Kyle Smith led the way offensively for Missoula, finishing 3-for-5 with two doubles, a homer and four RBI while hitting out of the cleanup spot in the order. The native of Old Hickory, Tenn. scored three times in the victory. The homer was one of three from Missoula on the night, as Eudy Ramos blasted his team-best seventh of the year leading off the fifth.

While Smith's three-run homer in the sixth was impressive, he may have been outdone by second baseman Didimo Bracho in the second. Bracho came to the plate with two on and two out, sending a pitch to the wall in centerfield where it skipped off the glove of centerfielder DJ Peters as he tried to make a miraculous play. The ball trickled away into right centerfield and Bracho turned on the burners, speeding around the bags for an inside-the-park three-run homer - his second round-tripper of the year.

Missoula controlled the game from the beginning, leading 3-0 after two thanks to Bracho's homer, and extending the lead to 7-0 after three following RBI-doubles from Smith and Bryan Araiza. Single runs in the fourth and fifth preceded the three-run sixth, as Missoula led 12-0 after the sixth.

Araiza finished the game 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI.

Ogden got its lone run in the top of the eighth as Mitchell Hansen hit into one of the five doubles plays turned by Missoula, plating DJ Peters from third base.

Nolan Long was charged with the loss after allowing eight runs (four earned) on eight hits over 4.0 innings. The right-hander, who dropped to 1-1 with the decision, did strike out seven batters over his four frames.

Missoula, which snapped a five-game losing streak, will look to keep momentum tomorrow when it hosts Ogden in the finale of the four-game series at 5:05 p.m.

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