Newman Homers Twice in PaddleHeads Victory Over Raptors

Ogden, UT.- The Missoula PaddleHeads were held in check for most of the day Sunday in game 5 opposite the Ogden Raptors. Domingo Pena was solid on the hill to continue the recent trend of solid starting pitching for Missoula but received little run support. After the Raptors tacked on a run in the seventh, Missoula would trail 3-1. That is when the tides would begin to shift.

A sacrifice fly by Cameron Thompson would cut the Raptors lead to 1 to get the scoring started in the top of the eighth. Zach Almond would then draw a walk to load the bases hitting in front of Nick Gatewood. Like the rest of the PaddleHeads offense, Gatewood had been quiet to that point going 0-3. However, Gatewood would come through when it mattered the most lacing a two-out double into the right center field gap to clear the bags to give Missoula their first lead. The PaddleHeads would never trail again winning for the fifth time in as many nights by a final score of 8-5.

Jayson Newman would put the final touch on the six-run eighth inning driving in Gatewood on a 2-run blast to right to make the score 7-3. The home run for Newman was his second of the day with his first one coming in the fifth to put the PaddleHeads on the board. Newman would finish 2-for-4 with 3 driven in. The eighth would not be the final time Newman would make an impact either as his name would be called in the final inning.

The Raptors took their first lead of the series jumping on the board in the first when Josh Broughton would score on a wild pitch in the frame. Ogden would then extend the lead to 2-0 in the fourth bringing a run home on an error. That would be the only semblance of offense for Ogden against Domingo Pena.

Pena would make it 5 quality starts in a row for Missoula’s starters in six fantastic innings of work. The native of the Dominican Republic allowed only one earned run in those frames while striking out 6. Missoula’s starting pitchers now have a 2.30 ERA in 5 starts during the series with a 4-0 record. Ogden has yet to bring in more than 2 runs against Missoula’s starters during this set.

The Raptors would have a rebuttal to the huge rally Missoula put together in the eighth to tighten things up down the stretch. Ogden would load the bases to start the inning to set up the rally. Matt Mogollon would do well to limit the damage in the inning however after coming in with the bases already loaded holding the Raptors to 2 runs in the frame to keep Missoula’s lead at 7-5.

The PaddleHeads would tack on an important insurance run in the next half inning as Chris Eusay would bring home Dean Nevarez from third on an RBI single to left field to give the PaddleHeads a 3-run cushion. Missoula scored 7 runs with 2-outs recorded in the game. That would set things up for Jayson Newman to shine once again in the bottom half of the ninth.

Newman has proven to be more than capable as a relief pitcher since signing with Missoula and would have his number called in the bottom of the ninth Sunday looking to earn his first professional save. Raul Shah would lead off the frame with a double to immediately put the pressure on the rookie. However, Newman would not allow another hit in the frame holding the line for the victory. He became the first player for Missoula to homer, and record a save in the same game this season.

The PaddleHeads (57-29) (22-16) remained on top of the Northern Division standings as Billings (39-47) (21-17) also found itself in the win column Sunday. Missoula will go for a sweep of this 6-game slate opposite the Raptors (46-40) (17-21) on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.

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