PL Missoula PaddleHeads

Osprey Shut out Orem to Clinch Series

August 20, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release


MISSOULA, MONT. - Just as they did against Grand Junction to start the current seven-game home stand, left-handers Junior Garcia and Cameron Smith highlighted a shutout victory for the Osprey on Wednesday night, as the O's (35-21) blanked the Orem Owlz (34-23) by a count of 5-0 from Ogren Park Allegiance Field. The shutout victory was the third of the year for Missoula.

Garcia tossed the first 5.0 shutout frames, surrendering just three hits and two walks while striking out three to improve to 2-0 with the victory. He has now tossed 10 shutout innings over his first two starts in an Osprey uniform. Smith dealt the next 3.0 innings, striking out a pair and allowing two hits and two walks, before Andrew Potter contributed a scoreless ninth inning to lock up the shutout.

Missoula used early runs to claim victory, scoring at least one run in each of the first four innings. A leadoff single from Isan Diaz got the first off to a solid start before Luke Lowery blasted his ninth home run of the year, a two-run homer, down the right field line to put the O's on the board.

The lead stretched to 3-0 in the second when an errant throw from Jeff Boehm at first base allowed Tyler Humphreys to scamper in with the run. Lowery was back to business in the third inning, shooting a triple into the right centerfield gap and ultimately coming in to score on a groundout from Jason Morozowski to make it 4-0 after three.

Francis Christy single-handedly extended the score to its final position, belting the first pitch of the fourth inning over the wall in right centerfield for his second career home run, and his second in as many nights.

With the victory, Missoula clinched the four-game series victory over Orem - just the second series loss of the year for the Owlz (2-1 series loss to Helena from 7/11 - 7/13). The O's have now won four straight games, and 10 of their last 13 overall. The four-game win streak is tied for the longest this year, and marks the fifth time the Osprey have managed such a streak.

Missoula will conclude the seven-game home stand tomorrow when it completes the four-game series with Orem at 7:05 pm MT.

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