Home Runs Pace PaddleHeads Attack In 6-2 Win
Glacier’s Bats Held In Check In 6-2 Missoula Victory
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 6 | 9 | 2 |
MISSOULA, MT - Fans in the Garden City would pack into Allegiance Field on Friday night with a postgame fireworks display on the docket following the ballgame between the Glacier Range Riders and Missoula PaddleHeads. After Missoula's offense tallied a season high 15 runs the night prior, offensively fireworks would not seem to be outside the realm of possibility. A highlight on this night however would prove to be pitching as the Glacier offense was held off the board for a large portion of the night. The offense would also find enough power at the plate to hold the lead through most of the contest.
Roberto Pena would put an exclamation point on a rally for the PaddleHeads with a home run in the 2nd inning to vault Missoula to the lead. That swing would be enough support for starter Ryan Wentz who would deliver a quality outing in 5 innings. PaddleHeads pitchers collectively would pitch in and out of trouble well stranding 11 Range Riders on the bases throughout the contest. A home run from Colin Gordon in the later innings would also help the PaddleHeads put on the finishing touches to a 6-2 victory Friday.
A 4-run PaddleHeads rally in the bottom of the 2nd would prove to be the only runs that the PaddleHeads offense would need. After a single from Kamron Willman, Taylor Smith would knock him in with a single to right field to get Missoula on the board. After an RBI groundout from Gordon, Pena would launch his 7th home run of the season into orbit to right field to make the score 4-0.
Willman would prove to be a table setter for the offense throughout finishing with a game-high 3 hits in a 3-for-4 performance. Pena would finish 2-for-5 in his at-bats Friday driving in a pair of runs. This early lead would be protected by the PaddleHeads starter through 5 innings.
Wentz would effectively keep the Glacier offense in check through 5 innings of work allowing just 1 to earn his 1st win as a PaddleHeads hurler. Wentz would work the bottom of the zone in the outing, inducing a pair of double plays to keep himself out of trouble. The PaddleHeads bullpen would also perform well after his departure.
Miguel Alba would make a good first impression in his debut as a pitcher in the Missoula pen after being signed Friday. Alba would work his way through 2 scoreless innings allowing just 2 baserunners. Zac Lampton would also continue to impress as a rookie in a scoreless 8th inning. The southpaw has only allowed 1 run to this point in 6 ⅓ innings of work this season. Gordon would then help Missoula put on the finishing touches offensively.
The 2nd year PaddleHead would hit his 2nd home run in as many games in the 7th inning on an impressive swing of the bat. Gordon would turn on a fastball well above the zone, sending a bullet over the left field fence to give Missoula a 5-1 lead. Glacier would scratch a run across in the 9th but would fail to threaten further as Missoula evened the series at 2 games apiece. Gordon finished 1-for-4 at the dish with a pair of RBIs.
The PaddleHeads (6-4) will now look to keep the good vibrations alive after wins in consecutive nights in action against the Range Riders (6-4). Another fun night at Allegiance Field will also be on the horizon as the PaddleHeads will host their annual Star Wars Night. First pitch of Game 5 is scheduled for 7:05 Saturday night in the final night game of this series. If you cannot head out to the ballpark. Be a part of the action on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.
