Osprey Silence Voyagers to Sweep Home Set

MISSOULA, MONT. - Luis Madero threw seven masterful innings, Eduardo Diaz smacked a pair of RBI triples, and the Missoula Osprey (3-3) held on at the end to beat the Great Falls Voyagers (4-2) by a final score of 5-4.

In his second start of the season, Madero allowed just three runs on four hits and one walk, while striking out five. His total of seven innings set a new career-high and offered the Osprey bullpen a break following Friday night's wild ballgame. Between the second and seventh innings, Madero retired 14 consecutive batters, notching four of his five strikeouts in that window. The win is his first of the season and the first for the Missoula starting staff as a unit.
For the second time in as many nights, Missoula struck first blood, scoring on an RBI single from Keshawn Lynch. The RBI was Lynch's second in two games as a member of the Osprey. The first-inning run offered Madero early support. 
After Great Falls tied the game in the top of the second on a sacrifice fly, Missoula answered with a pair in the bottom of the frame, both runs scoring with two outs. Infielder Joel Novas doubled to score Francis Martinez from second base and Eduardo Diaz notched the first of his two RBI triples, plating Novas.
With a freshly minted 3-1 lead, Madero stiffened in the third and did not allow another base runner until the top of the seventh inning when Great Falls outfielder Craig Dedelow doubled down the right field line. The next batter, Anthony Villa, hammered Madero's subsequent fastball for a two-run homer, tying the game at 3-3.
With Madero looking on from the dugout, Missoula reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh on the second of Diaz's two run-scoring triples. The Osprey added an insurance run on a throwing error by Villa at third base to lurch ahead 5-3 at the end of seven innings.
Following a perfect eighth inning by left-hander Abraham Almonte in his professional debut, the Osprey handed the ball to fellow debutant Cole Stapler to close the game. Despite allowing one run on a single and a hit batsmen, Stapler stranded the potential tying run on third base and collected the save. 
With the win, the Osprey move to .500 on the season and take to the road on Sunday for the first of two games in Great Falls. First pitch on Sunday is slated for 4:00 P.M. local time with coverage on ESPN 102.9 Missoula.