Six-Run Frame Propels Voyagers to Third Straight

Colorado Springs, CO-The Voyagers sent 11 batters to the plate in a six-run seventh inning that fueled a 9-4 series-opening victory over the Rocky Mountain Vibes Sunday night.

Great Falls (12-14) has won three in a row, and improved to 6-10 on the road. The Voyagers are 7-3 in their last ten games. The win was the first this season after trailing a game by three runs or more. Great Falls now sits just two games back of first-place in the North Division with 11 to play. Rocky Mountain (11-17) dropped to 5-10 at home, and the Vibes are just 1-9 in series openers.
The Voyagers jumped ahead first with a single tally in the first. Kelvin Maldonado led off the inning with a single to left. Luis Curbelo reached base with a pop fly single in shallow right. After a double play ball moved Maldonado to third, he later scored on a wild pitch.
The Vibes took an early lead with a four-spot in the home half of the second. Michael Wilson led off with a hit-by-pitch. Nick Kahle coaxed a walk. Edwin Sano loaded the bases with a bunt single. Luis Avalo gave Rocky Mountain the lead with a two-run single to left. With two outs, Jess Williams made it 4-1 with a two-run double lined into the left field corner.
Great Falls began its comeback with a run in the sixth. Luis Mieses doubled on a one-out line drive off the wall in right. Cameron Simmons trimmed the lead to 4-2 with an infield single rolled up the first base line that scored Mieses all the way from second.
The Voyagers took command in the seventh. Jakob Goldfarb led off the frame with a hit-by-pitch. Joshua Rivera followed with a single lined into center. Luis Curbelo made it 4-3 with an RBI base-hit to left. Harvin Mendoza tied the game with an RBI single bounced into right. A one-out single flared into shallow left-center by Luis Mieses gave Great Falls a 6-4 lead. The knock resulted in two runs coming home, with the second scoring on a bobble by the left fielder. Sam Abbott then capped the inning with a line drive home run over the wall in the right field corner for his fifth of the season. The homer extended Abbott's team-best hitting streak to nine. The Voyagers added a run in the ninth for the game's final margin.
On the mound, Karan Patel picked up the win in relief. Patel (2-1) put up three scoreless innings and gave up three hits with one strikeout and one walk. Arman Sabouri suffered the loss. Sabouri (0-2) surrendered five earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts.
The Voyagers outhit the Vibes 12-to-10. Rocky Mountain committed three errors. For Great Falls, Cameron Simmons went 3-for-4 with two doubles. It was the first three-hit game for Simmons. Kelvin Maldonado, Luis Curbelo, and Luis Mieses all had two-hit games. Luis Avalo picked up three hits for the Vibes.  
           
Great Falls plays game two of four at Colorado Springs against Rocky Mountain Monday night at 6:40. The Voyagers return home July 19^th to face Missoula in a three-game series. For season tickets and promotional information, call 406-452-5311 or visit www.gfvoyagers.com.