Voyagers Swept by Osprey in Twin Bill
July 25, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
MISSOULA, Mont. - The Great Falls Voyagers dropped both ends of Friday's doubleheader with the Missoula Osprey, falling 10-4 and 6-3 at Ogren Park Allegiance Field to fall to three games back in the Pioneer League North standings.
The fourth inning proved to be the difference in game one, as Missoula (20-14) broke a 2-2 tie with a seven-run frame. Great Falls starter Matt Ball (0-3) issued walks to the first two Osprey hitters in the inning, with a sacrifice and a ground out plating the first run of the frame, before the wheels came off for the Voyagers (17-15) with two outs.
With two down, six straight Osprey reached against Great Falls pitching. Raymel Flores and Luke Lowery each had RBI singles, Jason Morozowski had an RBI double, Marcus Wilson doubled home a pair, and Francis Christy stole home to put Missoula up 9-2.
Great Falls got two runs back in the fifth, as Dante Flores blasted his first pro homer, a two-run shot to cut it to 9-4.
That was as close as the Voyagers got, and Missoula tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to cap the twin bill opener.
The Osprey struck first in the opener, scoring a pair of two-out runs in the first. Ball walked two with two out, and those walks ended up costing the righty, as he surrendered a two-run double to Jason Morozowski.
The Voyagers got those runs right back in their half of the first. With two outs, Antonio Rodriguez took Missoula starter Scott Schultz (2-1) deep for his fourth homer of the year, tying the game at two apiece.
In game two, Great Falls (17-16) trailed 2-1 entering the sixth, but Landon Lassiter led off with a homer to tie the game. Later in the frame, Johan Cruz and Zach Fish each doubled, the latter off of Keegan Long (1-0), to put the visitors in front.
The lead was short lived however, as the Osprey (21-14) rallied in the home half. Matt Jones singled in the tying run against Danny Dopico (1-2), before the go-ahead run scored on a throwing error. Missoula tacked on two insurance runs from there on an RBI single from Flores, and a wild pitch.
The Voyagers threatened in the ninth, putting two runners aboard against Dan Savas, but the righty induced a game-ending double play to earn his league-leading ninth save, and seal the twin bill sweep for the Osprey.
Once again it was Missoula scoring the game's opening runs, tallying two unearned markers in the third on a single by Morozowski to go ahead.
Great Falls answered back with a run in the very next frame, as Rodriguez homered again, his fifth of the season, four of which have come against the Osprey.
The pair of losses sends Great Falls to three games back of Missoula in the standings, and the Osprey can clinch the first half division title with a win over the Voyagers on Saturday.
The Voyagers wrap-up their three-game set with the Missoula Osprey Saturday night at Ogren Park Allegiance Field. Great Falls will send lefty Tanner Banks (3-0, 1.39) to the mound, while the Osprey will counter with a southpaw of their own, in Anfernee Benitez (1-2, 4.94). First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m., and coverage will begin at 7:00 on 1400 AM KXGF and gfvoyagers.com.
Pioneer League Stories from July 25, 2015
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- Rockies Pitching Stifles Raptors - Ogden Raptors
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