Voyagers Split Twin Bill, Streak Ends at 15
Missoula, MT-The Voyagers split a doubleheader at Missoula Wednesday night, advancing their winning streak with a 1-0 game one victory before losing 9-3 in game two at Ogren Park Allegiance Field.
With the game one win, Great Falls (26-10, 47-27) made it 15 straight and six consecutive road wins. With the game two loss, the Voyagers fell just short of matching the 1990 Great Falls Dodgers team that won 16 in a row. Missoula (16-20, 32-42) ended a four-game losing streak by taking the night cap.
In game one, Chris Comito racked up a career high 13 strikeouts in a complete-game two-hit shutout. Comito (8-1) matched the single-game, season-high strikeout total set previously by Alec Hansen. He walked only one. It was the third complete-game for a Great Falls pitcher this season. Yosmer Solorzano owns the other two. The Voyagers needed just the one run they scored in the third. Joel Booker reached with a one-out single to left. He stole second and third, and then scored on a Mitch Roman base hit to left. Comito struck out the side in the sixth and seventh innings respectively, and left a runner stranded at third in both innings to preserve the shutout. Alex Gouin went the distance in defeat for Missoula. Gouin (2-6) allowed just one earned run on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks.
The Osprey jumped on Great Falls early and often in game two. Jasrado Chisholm led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run high and deep to right. It was Chisholm's ninth of the season. Missoula opened it up with a six-run second. The inning was highlighted by a three-run home run from Kyle Smith lined over the wall in the left field corner. It was Smith's eighth dinger of the season. A two-run third gave the Osprey a 9-0 cushion. The Voyagers managed two runs in the fifth and a single tally in the sixth. Palmer Betts pitched all seven innings for the win. Betts (3-2) gave up three earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Luis Ledo took the loss for Great Falls. Ledo (2-1) lasted just one-and-two-thirds and yielded seven earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
Great Falls closes out the 2016 regular season with game three at Missoula Thursday night. First pitch is set for 7:05. The Voyagers then face Billings in the best-of-three Pioneer League divisional playoff series. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, September 9th at Centene Stadium. For ticket information, visit www.gfvoyagers.com or call 406-452-5311.