The O's trailed the Orem Owlz by a run heading into the top of the ninth inning Tuesday at the Home of the Owlz. Then Missoula appeared to tie the game when Derrick Walker connected for an apparent two-out double with Taylor Harbin at second base.
Harbin scored and Walker was standing safely at second when the first base umpire indicated Walker missed first base. He was called out and the game ended with the Osprey on the wrong end of a 6-5 score.
The Osprey (6-9 North, 20-33 overall) received bad news even before the game started when the team's most successful starting pitcher, Bryan Henry (5-2), was scratched with a stiff back. Reliever Josh Blake got the nod for the first time in his minor league career, and left after 3 2-3 innings with the score at 2-2.
Orem (8-7 South, 25-28 overall) took its first lead in the bottom of the fifth against reliever Ty Davis. Jay Brossman singled and moved to second on a throwing error by Missoula outfielder Jimmy Principe. He later scored on a broken bat single by Gordon Gronkowski.
The Owlz stretched their lead to 4-2 in the seventh, but the Osprey reclaimed the lead with three runs in the eighth. Harbin doubled and scored on a Walker single, before Reynaldo Navarro drove in two runs with a one-out double.
The Owlz tallied the tying and winning runs off reliever Joshua Ellis in their half of the eighth. Jeremy Moore scored after Rian Kiniry singled and moved up on a throwing error by Navarro at shortstop. Andrew Romine later doubled, scoring Kiniry.
Eli Rumler reached on an error to start Missoula's ninth. But he was caught stealing while Anthony Smith struck out swinging, and Rumler was tossed for arguing the call.
But the Osprey refused to go away quietly. Harbin's two-out double gave them a runner in scoring position. That's when Walker stepped to the plate and hit his apparent double that was ruled an out by the first base umpire.
The loss spoiled big nights by Harbin and Rumler. Both went 3-for-5 and scored a double. Navarro had a pair of hits and drove in three runs.
Ellis (2-2) took the loss on the mound. He allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits in 1 2-3 innings of duty. Brian Chambers (2-0) earned the win, allowing one run on two hits in 1 2-3 innings of relief work.
Brossman and Perez were the offensive heroes for the Owlz. Brossman went 3-for-5 and Perez hit his fifth home run of the season.
The Osprey finish their road trip tonight at 7, at the Home of the Owlz.
MISSOULA OREM
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Clifford lf 4 1 1 0 Estrella 2b 4 2 1 0
Rumler 3b 5 0 3 0 G-Lopez dh 3 0 0 0
Smith 1b 4 0 0 1 Brssman 3b 4 1 3 1
Harbin 2b 4 2 3 0 Grnkwski 1b 4 0 2 2
Walker dh 4 1 1 1 Perez rf 4 1 2 2
Principe rf 4 1 0 0 Moore lf 4 1 1 0
Bstmnte c 2 0 1 0 DLSantos c 4 0 0 0
Navarro ss 4 0 2 3 Gvanatto cf 1 0 0 0
Wrthngtn cf 4 0 0 0 Kiniry cf 1 1 1 0
Romine ss 4 0 1 0
Totals 36 5 11 0 Totals X X X X
Missoula 011 000 030 - 5
Orem 011 010 12x - 6
E-Bustamante, Prinicpe, Navarro, Giovanatto, Moore. DP-Missoula 1, Orem 1. LOB-Missoula 8, Orem 8. 2B-Harbin 3 (13), Rumler (7), Navarro (4), Perez (4), Romine (3). HR-Perez (5). SB-Clifford (5), Giovanatto (3), Moore (10). CS-Rumler 2. S-Bustamante, Gonzalez-Lopez.
IP H R ER BB SO
Missoula
Blake 3.2 3 2 2 4 2
Davis 2.2 5 2 1 0 4
Ellis L,2-2 1.2 3 2 1 0 1
Orem
Davitt 3.0 4 2 2 2 1
Schlecker 3.0 2 0 0 0 2
West 1.0 3 2 2 0 1
Chambers W,2-0 2.0 2 1 0 0 2
West pitched to 2 batters in the 8th. HBP-Smith (by Schlecker). Umpires-Home, Kyle Byrne. Bases, Kolin Kline.
T-2:48. A-2,321.
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