Missoula beat Idaho Falls by two runs, 5-3, to help the Osprey take two out of three games with the Chukars, and win just their second series of the season.
Missoula's Rafael Hilario plated the winning runs with a two-out, two-run double that put the Osprey ahead 4-3 in the sixth inning - which turned out to be one big second chance for the struggling Birds. Missoula, which was outhit 8-6 by Idaho Falls, added an insurance run in the eighth on an RBI double by Alberto Diaz.
Idaho Falls reliever Derrick Saito struck out the first two batters he faced, but the second hitter, Ryne White, reached on a wild pitch. After a walk, Saito struck out Diaz, but again that pitch got by catcher Juan Graterol. It appeared Diaz foul-tipped it, but it was ruled a passed ball. Both runners advanced and Hilario followed with his clutch hit. Saito struck out the next batter for a total of four strikeouts in one inning.
Missoula starter Randy Rodriguez won for the first time in six outings. The 20-year-old from Jicome Esparza, Dominican Republic, pitched six innings and allowed the Chukars all three of their runs on seven hits. Unlike Idaho Falls, though, he never lost his cool.
Rodriguez (1-3) struck out one, walked one and hit one batter and was relieved by a pair of hard-throwing right-handers who didn't allow a run over the next three frames. Newly acquired Trevor Harden tossed one perfect inning and Bryan Shaw followed with two scoreless innings for his second save of the season. Shaw, a second-round pick from Long Beach State, finished with four strikeouts, too, a pair in the eighth and ninth innings.
Winning the rubber match with Idaho Falls was sweet, considering the O's had been swept by Casper in the previous series to set a franchise record for consecutive losses at 10.
Missoula notched one run in the fourth to cut Idaho Falls' lead to 3-2. The O's scored on an error by Chukars first baseman Alberto Espinosa. Idaho Falls finished with six errors in all.
The Chukars grabbed a 3-1 lead on Antonio Jimenez's solo home run to lead off the fourth. Jimenez made an error at third base which allowed Missoula to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Idaho Falls hitters John Alfaro and Alwin Perez had back-to-back RBI singles in the next inning.
The Pioneer League has an off day Tuesday. Missoula (6-21) is back in action on Wednesday against Casper, as the Northern and Southern Divisions switch home sites.
Notes: The Osprey turned three double plays. Š White finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Š The O's added Harden to their roster on Sunday. He was Arizona's 14th-round draft choice out of New Mexico Junior College.
IDAHO FALLS MISSOULA
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Norris cf 4 0 0 0 Elmore dh 4 0 0 0
Alfaro ss 4 0 1 1 Navarro ss 4 0 0 0
Perez 2b 4 0 1 1 Corniel c 4 0 1 0
Francis rf 4 0 1 0 White 1b 4 3 2 0
Jimenez 3b 4 1 2 1 Gomez 3b 3 1 0 0
Testa lf 3 0 1 0 Diaz cf 4 1 1 1
Espinosa 1b 4 1 1 0 Hilario 2b 3 0 1 2
VanDeKeere dh 3 0 0 0 Asencio rf 4 0 0 0
Graterol c 2 1 1 0 Worthington rf 2 0 1 0
Stone lf 0 0 0 0
Totals 32 3 8 3 Totals 32 5 6 3
Idaho Falls 002 100 000 - 3
Missoula 010 102 01x - 5
E - Alfaro 2, Jimenez, Espinosa 2, Cota, Asencio. DP - Idaho Falls 1, Missoula 3. LOB - Idaho Falls 4, Missoula 6. 2B - Hilario, Diaz. HR - Jimenez (2). SB - Diaz (2), White (2). CS - Testa (1).
Idaho Falls
IP H R ER BB SO
Cota 5.0 3 2 0 2 1
Saito L, 0-2 1.0 1 2 2 1 4
Sisk 1.0 0 0 0 0 3
Thompson 1.0 2 1 1 0 0
Missoula
Rodriguez W, 1-3 6.0 7 3 3 1 1
Harden 1.0 0 0 0 0 1
Shaw S, 2 2.0 1 0 0 0 4
WP - Saito. HBP - Graterol (by Rodriguez).
Umpires - Dustin Tibbitts, Ian Fazio.
T - 2:08.
A - 2,250
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)