Smith Stymies Great Falls Bats
August 30, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Missoula PaddleHeads News Release
GREAT FALLS, MONT. - Left-hander Cameron Smith stymied the Great Falls bats on Sunday afternoon, allowing just one hit and one walk with four strikeouts over 6.0 shutout frames to improve to 7-1 as the Missoula Osprey (39-27) defeated the Great Falls Voyagers (31-35) by a count of 7-1 from Centene Stadium.
Smith allowed a leadoff walk to Grant Massey in the first inning before inducing a double play to erase the runner. A double from Johan Cruz followed with two out in the first, but the lefty retired the next 15 straight hitters, taking him all the way through two out in the sixth. An error charged to Isan Diaz broke up the string, but Smith promptly struck out Dante Flores to end his stellar outing.
Missoula used a trio of relievers in the victory, beginning with right-hander Yefrey Ramirez. Ramirez, who struck out three over 1.0 inning, allowed the lone Great Falls run, surrendering back-to-back doubles to Sikes Orvis and Landon Lassiter in the seventh. Cody Clark and Keegan Long each tossed a scoreless inning of relief to finish the victory, with Long striking out the side in order in the ninth.
Offensively, Missoula received an outstanding day from Raymel Flores. The switch-hitting second baseman went 4-for-4 with a run scored, a homer and three RBI while hitting out of the fifth spot in the order. The round-tripper, a two-run shot in the eighth, was his fourth of the season.
Jason Morozowski also belted a homer, getting the O's on the board with a solo shot in the four-run third inning. The homer was Morozowski's fifth of the year and came as part of a 2-for-4 day hitting out of the leadoff spot.
All four of Missoula's runs in the third came with two out as the homer from Morozowski was followed by a double from Diaz and a hit-by-pitch to Luke Lowery to bring Austin Byler to the plate. The left-handed hitting first baseman wasted no time delivering a run-scoring blow, shooting the first pitch of his at bat down the line in right for a two-RBI double to bring home Diaz and Lowery. Flores capped the scoring run on the ensuing play, punching an RBI-single to right field to bring in Byler.
The Osprey added a fifth run in the fifth inning before tacking on the final two in the eighth on the home run from Flores.
Missoula will have an off day tomorrow before returning to action on Tuesday when it opens a four-game home series with Great Falls at 7:05 p.m. MT. The four games against the Voyagers will be the final regular-season home games of the year.
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