Voyagers Shutout for First Time in 2015
September 4, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
MISSOULA, Mont. (September 3, 2015)Â - The Great Falls Voyagers were shutout for the first time this year, as they were blanked by the Missoula Osprey 6-0 Thursday night at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.
For the second night in a row, it was the second inning that proved to be the downfall of the Voyagers (15-18, 32-37). After a one-out walk was issued to Raymel Flores by Brannon Easterling (5-4), Great Falls made an error, that allowed him to score the first run. Missoula (18-14, 41-28) then added another run on a perfect bunt single by Matt McPhearson.
Austin Byler drove in the third run of the frame for the Osprey, and then McPhearson took off from third in between pitches to steal home and plate a fourth tally for the home team.
In the fourth the Osprey added an insurance run, as Byler brought in his second of the night after Tyler Humphreys had tripled. Byler now leads the Osprey in RBIs with 52, and is second in the league in that category.
The five-run cushion was more than starter Bryant Holtmann (2-1) needed. The southpaw pitched out of trouble in the second and third innings, but was otherwise in control. The lefty spun six scoreless to earn his second quality start and second win of his pro career.
The Voyager offense continued to flounder against the Missoula bullpen, as a trio of Osprey relievers allowed just one hit over the final three innings to clinch their fourth shutout of the campaign, which ties them for the league lead. The Osprey have now kept Great Falls off the board for 17 innings in a row, as the Voyagers last run came in the second inning of Wednesday's contest.
One of the lone bright spots on the night for Great Falls were a couple of players making their Pioneer League debut. At the plate, Corey Zangari doubled in his first Voyager at-bat, and finished the night 2-for-4. Jordan Stephens made his debut as well, working two scoreless innings behind Easterling.
With Great Falls losing and Billings knocking off Helena, the Voyagers fall into third place in the second half standings, three and a half games behind Missoula. The Voyagers also now trail the Mustangs by a half game in the wild card race, with Helena two and a half behind Billings.
The Voyagers and Osprey wrap-up their four-game series Friday night at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Right-hander Lucas Shearrow (2-3, 3.32) will get the ball for Great Falls, while Missoula will counter with southpaw Junior Garcia (2-1, 3.86). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., and coverage will begin at 6:20 on 1400 AM KXGF and gfvoyagers.com.
Pioneer League Stories from September 4, 2015
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- Holtmann Deals Six in Shutout - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Voyagers Shutout for First Time in 2015 - Great Falls Voyagers
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