Voyagers Can't Solve Raptors Puzzle
Published on July 20, 2012 under Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
GREAT FALLS - The Great Falls Voyagers (20-11) finally found a match for their red-hot play as the Ogden Raptors (18-13) flummoxed Voyager hitters for most of the night en route to a 2-1 final at Centene stadium. The loss snapped a seven game Voyager winning streak and, combined with a win by Billings, chipped their North Division lead down to three games with seven left to play in the half.
Both teams arms were locked in early as Brandon Parrent (0-1) and Ross Stripling, former teammates at Texas A&M, dueled to the third scoreless. Parrent was finally touched in the third for a lone run following a Jose Capellan triple, but no further damage was done was Parrent finished his three innings trailing just 1-0. Stripling kept the Voyagers scoreless through three when he ended the Voyagers' best scoring chance before the ninth with no damage: an error and a two-out double by Justin Jirschele put two in scoring position with two outs, but Micahel Johnson ground out to end the threat.
That was the Voyagers' last chance until the ninth as Kazuki Nishijima (5-0) entered in the fourth and totally silenced the Voyagers with a mix of offspeed craftiness. Nishijima got fifteen up and fifteen down to finish five scoreless innings. Meanwhile, the Raptors grabbed a single run off Ryan Bollinger in his fourth inning of work and took a 2-0 lead to the ninth inning.
The Voyages came as close as they could to the edge without toppling over as a pair of walks and two wild pitches cut the lead to one and set the tying run on third with two outs. A walk to Yoandy Barroso put the tying run on as well, but Abe Ruiz was struck out on an excellent curveball from Scott Griggs to end the game.
The Voyagers play Ogden again Saturday night at 7 PM for game three of the four game series. It is ACE Hardware Hat Night and the first 750 fans will receive a free Voyagers hat. The gates open early at 5:30 PM for the Great Falls Tribune Concert Series.
Pioneer League Stories from July 20, 2012
- Offense Goes Silent in 2-1 Loss - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Voyagers Can't Solve Raptors Puzzle - Great Falls Voyagers
- Helena Hampers Chukars' Bats in 5-2 Loss - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Osprey Outgnned by Helton-Led Rockies, 10-5 - Missoula PaddleHeads
- "No Soup for You" and More - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Shuttles, Parking available for Steve Martin & Steel Canyon Rangers concert tonight - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Hit-By-Pitch Gives Owlz Wacky Walk-Off Win - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Seven Is Heaven as Voyagers Win Again - Great Falls Voyagers
- Homers Back Selman in 4-3 Chukars Win - Idaho Falls Chukars
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