PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Osprey rally past Voyagers in stunner, 14-9

Published on July 3, 2009 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MT - There have been a number of events of which Missoula Osprey fans have just said, "wow". Thursday night, many of the 2,018 fans at Ogren Park Allegiance Field were saying exactly that.

And, by the end of the night, the Osprey shared the top perch in the Pioneer Baseball League's North Division.

Not only did the Osprey rally from 8-1 down with a seven-run seventh inning, then score six times in the bottom of the eighth to get off the mat again and beat the Great Falls Voyagers, 14-9; they also provided a season-ticket holder with another unforgettable moment.

Martha Cluphf - whose husband, Rodney, won $10,000 last season on an Osprey triple play during the $10,000 Thursday promotion - won another $10,000 when the Osprey scored seven times in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game. The seven runs in the seventh inning just happened to be the baseball event for which Cluphf's name was drawn, and the Osprey delivered.

Two pitches later, Nick Ciolli provided what looked to be a nail for the Osprey balloon, hitting a solo home run deep into the Missoula night to give the Voyagers (6-4) a 9-8 lead. However, the Osprey (6-4) would score six more runs off of the Voyager bullpen in the home half to complete the unbelievable triumph.

With one out in the home half of the eighth, Raywily Gomez drew a walk with the bases loaded to re-knot the game, and Errol Hollinger's fielder's choice untied it, with an error keeping the bags full of Osprey after Great Falls third baseman Rob Cummings lost control of the ball while trying to start a double play. Ender Inciarte singled home a pair of runs, and David Nick then followed with a two-out, two-run triple to push the Osprey lead to 14-9.

The Osprey had just one hit entering the bottom of the fourth inning, when Ramon Castillo led off the inning with a solo home run, his first in Missoula. That cut the deficit to 2-1, but the Voyagers would score three runs in the top of the fifth, and two more in the sixth, to take what seemed to be a commanding 7-1 lead. Great Falls would add a run in the top of the seventh before the Osprey would begin the comeback.

Sammy De Los Santos (1-0) pitched three innings of relief, including a scoreless ninth inning, to pick up his first win for the Osprey. Eury De La Rosa pitched well in his second start for the Osprey, allowing just four hits and two runs - one earned - while striking out four batters.

With the win, the Osprey jumped into a three-way tie for the top spot with Great Falls and Helena, who rallied to beat the Billings Mustangs on Thursday, 5-4.

The Osprey and Voyagers will wrap up their three-game series here on Friday at 7:05. The Osprey will start right-hander Enrique Burgos on the mound, while the Voyagers will counter with right-hander Terry Doyle.

Only general admission tickets remain for Friday's contest. Tickets for any remaining game this season can be obtained for all Osprey home games by calling the Osprey at (406) 543-3300, stopping by the Osprey Team Store at 412 W. Alder, or ordering online at www.missoulaosprey.com.

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Pioneer League Stories from July 3, 2009


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