Eleven Osprey Hits Not Enough, O's Fall, 6-3

The Missoula Osprey (31-27, 11-9) totaled eleven hits Tuesday night, falling to Idaho Falls (28-31, 7-15), 6-3, at Melaleuca Field. With Billings also defeating Great Falls Tuesday night, the Osprey loss moves them four games out of first in the North.
Missoula's right-handed starter, Alex Valdez (L, 1-2) gave up five runs on six hits, walking none and striking out two.

Missoula scored first Tuesday night, thanks to a two-out, RBI single from Osprey catcher Luvin Valbuena. However, the Chukars quickly answered with two runs in the 3^rd.   
The O's, playing as the home team in Idaho Falls Tuesday night, tallied another run in the bottom of the 3^rd, tying the game, 2-2. Tristen Carranza knocked his 11^th double of the season to score Osprey second-baseman Cam Coursey from 1^st.
Despite having the bases loaded and nobody out, the RBI double from Carranza was the only run scored in the 3^rd for Missoula. In the decisive 5^th inning, Valdez allowed three runs to score on five Idaho Falls hits, ending the Osprey starter's night.
Missoula's third-baseman Jose Reyes singled with one out in the 6^th to draw the deficit to three runs, but despite having the tying run to the plate in the 9^th, Missoula was unable to gain any more runs, ending their three-game win streak.
A two-game series concludes Wednesday night in Idaho Falls, with a pending four-game road series in Great Falls. The Osprey and Chukars are set for a 7:15 first pitch at Melaleuca Field.
The Osprey return to Ogren Park at Allegiance Field for the final time of the 2019 regular season on Tuesday, August 27^th, to begin a pivotal, three-game series vs Billings.