Mitsui hits for cycle in 27th career game

Trevor Mitsui's parents and younger sister piled into the car early Thursday morning and made the approximately eight-hour drive from the Seattle area to Missoula, Montana. In return, he gave them a night they'll never forget.

The Arizona infield prospect hit for the cycle in just his 27th professional game, completing it with a single in the eighth inning as Rookie-level Missoula held off Grand Junction, 12-9, at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.

"I've never done this before in my life," Mitsui said. "I didn't even really know how to react when I got the single in the bottom of the eighth. It was funny because me and my hitting coach, Vince Harrison, we were working earlier today on some mechanical things. I had a little bit of a funk going, so what a way to break out of a funk."

With his team hanging on to a three-run lead in the eighth and needing a single for history, Mitsui stepped to the plate with one out and rocketed a line drive back to the mound that hit Grand Junction reliever Alec Kenilvort in the leg and ricocheted toward third base.

"I actually thought the third baseman (Kevin Padlo) was going to pick it up, barehand it and make some miraculous play to get me at first base," Mitsui said. "Luckily, it deflected off hard enough that it went into foul territory on the third-base side."

The University of Washington product belted an RBI triple in the bottom of the first for the Osprey and led off the third with a home run. Dane McFarland followed that blast with a solo shot of his own.

In the fourth, Mitsui lined a two-out double to center field that plated Fernery Ozuna and Justin Williams. A 30th-round pick of the D-backs last month, Mitsui posted career highs with his four hits, four RBIs and three runs.

"It's been pretty hectic," Mitsui said of his first pro season. "I got here the first day, and a lot of the guys on the team had already been playing together in extended spring training. I was the new guy. I didn't really know anybody, but I've made friends with all the guys on the team. We have an awesome team, a great group of guys. It's been kind of hard getting used to playing every day from college ball, but it's also nice to just focus on one thing, baseball."

The Lynnwood, Washington native has been able to see his family more than many players in his position, thanks to his relative proximity to home in the Northwest League. Prior the arrival of parents Laurie and Jeff and sister Takara on Thursday, his grandparents were in attendance for Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Rockies.

"It was really cool to get to do that in front of them," he said of his historic night.

Williams also posted four hits for the Osprey, and Sergio Alcantara, Ozuna and Damion Smith each contributed multi-hit games. Missoula racked up 17 hits in total, six for extra bases.

Missoula starter Tyler Bolton (3-1) allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on 10 hits while striking out five and walking one in five innings in the win.

The Osprey chased Rockies starter Javier Palacios after just 3 1/3 innings. Palacios (1-3) surrendered nine runs on 11 hits.