Osprey Surge Past Voyagers for Eighth Win

GREAT FALLS, MONT. - The Missoula Osprey (8-9) raced back from a 2-0 deficit to plate six consecutive runs and eventually hold on for a 6-5 win over the Great Falls Voyagers (7-10) on Wednesday night, snapping a string of six consecutive losses at Centene Stadium dating back to 2016.

Missoula stumbled out of the starting blocks on Wednesday, falling behind 2-0 after the first inning and going hitless through the first three frames. In the top of the fourth, however, outfielder Gabriel Maciel broke through for the Osprey's first hit of the contest on a masterfully executed bunt single to third base. A single by the next batter, Eduardo Diaz, put runners on first and second with one out for Joey Rose. Rose promptly swatted an RBI single to plate Missoula's first run of the night. Immediately following Rose's single, Luis Lara lined a double to right field to score Diaz and tie the game. The final run of the fourth came across when Great Falls pitcher Fernando Gallegos was charged with a balk, allowing Rose to trot home from third. Staked to a 3-2 lead, the Osprey never trailed again.
 
An inning later, Missoula struck for two more runs on a two-out, two-run home run by Eduardo Diaz, his second of the season. Diaz posted a 2-for-4 night, notching a single and a homer. Finally in the sixth, Luis Lara doubled for a second time, scoring on an RBI-double to left-center field by Juan Araujo. Lara finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and his team-leading sixteenth RBI of the season.
 
Following a rocky first inning, Osprey starting pitcher Franklyn Soriano cruised through the subsequent five frames, notching season-highs with six innings pitched and eight strikeouts. In his first quality start of the season, Soriano allowed three runs (all earned) on six hits and one walk, lifting him to his first victory of the season.
 
After Soriano's exit, right-hander Jimmy Johnson surrendered a pair of runs in the seventh, but escaped the eighth with a 6-5 lead when Nate Nolan struck a fly ball deep to left that peeled foul by just a few feet. Abraham Almonte fired a perfect ninth inning to earn his second save in as many chances, striking out one.
 
The Osprey return to action on Thursday night when they welcome the Great Falls Voyagers to Ogren Park at Allegiance Field for the first of two games. First pitch on Wednesday is slated for 7:05 p.m. with the Mission Paint Pregame Show commencing at 6:45 p.m. on ESPN 102.9 and the MiLB First Pitch App.