MISSOULA — The Billings Mustangs scored five runs in the first and 10 over the first four innings. That was enough to hold off a comeback and defeat the Missoula Osprey 10-7 in Pioneer League Baseball action at Ogren Park Allegiance Field on Monday night.
A two-run double by Quin Cotton and a two-run towering home run to right-center by Edwin Yon started the Billings onslaught in the first. Yon singled in another run in the third. Cotton drilled a three-run homer to right to push the lead to 10-2 in the fourth inning, giving him five RBI on two hits.
The Osprey climbed a little closer when Kevin Watson lined a double off the right field wall with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth. All three runners scored to cut the lead to 10-5.
Missoula put together one final rally in the bottom of the ninth. Two more scored on a Tristen Carranza single with two outs. After a walk, the Osprey brought the tying run to the plate, but David Sanchez flied out to Cotton in center, who fittingly ended the game.
The win snapped a three-game losing skid for the last-place Mustangs, who improved to 2-8. The Osprey fell to 4-6.
Game 2 of the three-game series is set for 7:05 p.m. Tuesday in Missoula.
