Osprey Ride Five-Run First to Victory; Missoula 7, Ogden 6
Published on July 8, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
MISSOULA, MONT. - Luke Lowery's fourth home run of the year, a three-run shot in the bottom of the first, highlighted a five-run first inning for the Missoula Osprey (11-7), as the O's defeated the visiting Ogden Raptors (9-11) by a count of 7-6 from Ogren Park Allegiance Field on Tuesday night.
The game did not get off to a great start for Missoula, as the Raptors scored three times in the top of the first, with all three coming in on a three-run homer from Matt Jones. The home run was Jones' third of the year, and it came off of Osprey starter Scott Schultz.
Schultz, who did not factor in the decision after allowing five runs on six hits with four strikeouts over 4.0 innings of work, benefitted from a strong offensive output from his teammates. The O's responded to the three-run top of the first with a five-run home half that included five hits and two walks. Singles from Jason Morozowski and Austin Byler preceded the game-tying homer from Lowery before Raymel Flores added an RBI-double that made it 5-3 Osprey after one inning.
Flores finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, a run scored and an RBI, while Byler went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Matt McPhearson was the third Osprey player to register a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases to run his stolen base total to five on the year.
After Missoula extended the lead to 6-3 on a sacrifice fly from Morozowski in the second, Ogden added a run in the fourth and fifth to cut the deficit to one at 6-5. A solo homer from Nick Sell, his second of the year, plated the run in the fourth before a single from Chris Godinez eventually came around to score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Willie Calhoun in the fifth.
Flores kick started the Missoula offense to a run in the sixth, lacing his first triple of the year into the left-centerfield gap before scoring on a single from Tyler Humphreys with the infield drawn in. The run, which extended the lead to 7-5, proved instrumental as Ogden managed to scratch its final run across in the eighth. Singles from Nick Dean and Calhoun got the inning started, but left-hander Cameron Smith nearly escaped unscathed, striking out Michael Medina and inducing a ground ball to second for the first two outs of the frame and leaving runners at the corners. Unfortunately for the O's, the lefty uncorked a wild pitch that allowed a run to come in and cut the lead to one at 7-6. After a second error was charged to Humphreys at third base, Smith was pulled in favor of Gabriel Moya. The left-handed reliever did his job in short work, getting a fly ball to right field on the first pitch he threw to escape the jam and maintain the lead.
Dan Savas entered in the ninth inning for Missoula, retiring the side in order, including striking out two, to record his sixth save of the year. For his effective 2.2 innings of relief that included five strikeouts, Smith was credited with the victory and moved to 3-0 on the year.
Missoula will continue a three-game series with Ogden tomorrow at 7:05 pm MT. RHP Yefrey Ramirez (2-0, 2.65 ERA) will take the ball for Missoula opposite RHP Ivan Vieitez (0-1, 5.79 ERA) for Ogden. The game will be the second in a seven-game home stand for the Osprey.
Pioneer League Stories from July 8, 2015
- Brewers Rained out Wednesday in Grand Junction - Helena Brewers
- Voyagers Game Notes: July 8 vs. Idaho Falls - Great Falls Voyagers
- Raptors Fall Behind Early, Drop Close Game at Missoula - Ogden Raptors
- Billings Pitchers Lead Way as Mustangs Take Game 1 of Series - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Osprey Ride Five-Run First to Victory; Missoula 7, Ogden 6 - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Chukars Drop Series Opener to Voyagers - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Great Falls Claims Series Opener from Chukars - Great Falls Voyagers
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