Pena Puts Missoula In Win Column In ‘Knockout’
PaddleHeads Defeat Range Riders In ‘Knockout’ Thursday
| Final (10) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
FLATHEAD VALLEY, MT- The Missoula PaddleHeads pitching staff was up to the task yet again in another battle with the Glacier Range Riders. After holding Glacier to 2 runs combined in the first 2 games of the series from Glacier Bank Park, it would be another quiet night for the Riders' offense Thursday. Glacier's staff turned in a solid effort as well with the bullpen backing a solid effort from starter Cooper Benson. A pair of home runs on both sides of the equation in regulation would keep the game tied. Success on one side in a 'Knockout' round would then decide the victor.
Ryan McCarthy of the Range Riders would match the effort of Adam Fogel in round 1 setting up Roberto Pena in the 2nd round of the knockout. The rookie 1st baseman would see 2 home runs leave the yard in his efforts in the 2nd round for Missoula. Christian Kirtley of Glacier would fail to match this giving the PaddleHeads their 2nd with this season in knockout fashion as a result.
The PaddleHeads would strike in the 1st inning of regulation for the 2nd game in a row taking an early lead in the 1st inning. After leading off the game with a double, Patrick Chung would score on a single to left center off the bat of Mike Rosario making the score 1-0 early. Chung would have another productive night from the top of the order reaching base 3 times in a 2-for-3 performance. The leadoff man for the Range Riders would play a big role as well on the flipside.
Gabe Howell would match the effort of Chung in the 1st hitting a double down the right field line to set things up for the offense. The 2nd year Rang Rider would then score the tying run on a ground out 2 batters later making the score 1-1. Howell would bring Glacier to their only lead a few innings later.
The Range Riders 2nd baseman would send a towering home run over the left field wall in the 3rd inning to give Glacier a 2-1 lead. Howell would finish just a triple shy of the cycle in the contest as part of a 3-for-5 effort. Alfredo Villa would settle in nicely from this point in what would be another solid outing.
The Pioneer League All-Star would pitch into the 6 inning for his 5th straight outing allowing 2 runs on 5 hits. Villa would only allow 1 hit after Howell's home run in the 3rd inning seemingly getting stronger as the outing progressed. This was highlighted by Villa recording 4 of the final 6 outs of his outing via the strikeout. Villa would total 7 overall throughout the course of his outing. One swing from the offense also allowed the PaddleHeads to keep things deadlocked down the stretch.
Catcher Carlos Perez would hit his 3rd home run in a Missoula uniform in the 5th to knot things up at 2 runs apiece. This would be the final time either team found the scoreboard with both bullpens keeping things under control.
Tim Cunningham, Andrew Garcia, Mark Timmins, and Arman Sabouri did the job in the PaddleHeads pen to keep the game tied in what was another solid night of pitching. The Missoula bullpen collectively has now tossed 10 consecutive shutout innings in this series going back to game 1 on Tuesday. It may have taken some extra swings in 'Dinger Time' to get it done on this night, But the PaddleHeads would walk away from the ballpark Thursday victorious once more.
After taking home their 6th consecutive win overall, Missoula (53-16) will look for more success on the road in action with Glacier (34-35). Action on a Friday night in the Flathead Valley gets underway with a 7:05 p.m. First pitch. Catch every moment from Glacier Bank Park on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M. and 1029espn.com.
