Newman Homers Twice & Earns The Save in Win Over Great Falls

Missoula, MT - Jayson Newman led the Missoula PaddleHeads offense from start to finish in game 1 of a three game set opposite the Great Falls Voyagers at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park. After Newman hit a pair of home runs over the course of the game, Missoula would lead by only 2 headed to the top of the ninth inning. That would only mean one thing. It was time for Newman to also take the ball in the top of the ninth. In the process transforming into 'The Dead Man.'

The crowd in the Garden City would rise to their feet in the ninth as Newman would be in search of his third save in as many opportunities Friday night. No team had seen a run cross the plate against Newman in a save situation to that point in the season. That trend would continue Friday as Newman would retire the side in order to preserve a 6-4 win for the PaddleHeads. In the process Newman earned the save, and homered in the game game for the third time this season. 

Newman has not only been one of the driving forces offensively for the PaddleHeads this season leading the team in home runs (12) and RBIs (29), but has also been their most trusted reliever in the ninth inning being the only pitcher to record a save this season. It took a lot of hard work in the offseason to reach this point, but the California native relishes the opportunity to shine in this truly one of a kind role. 

"This offseason was really great for me, I lost some weight and was able to work on every aspect of my game," Newman said. "When 'Skip' calls my name and says it's time to get loose, I am able to just flip a switch mentally. I try to explain to other people what that means and it's hard to understand for most people. But for me it is something that I need to do, and it's the persona I need to have on the hill."  

Newman wasted little time getting Missoula going offensively, singling home Brandon Riley in the first to tie the game at 1. This would only be the beginning of a spectacular night for Newman who would just keep on coming at the plate. 

Missoula would gain their first lead of the night in the second thanks to Henderson Perez who knocked in Lamar Sparks on a sacrifice fly to make the score 2-1. It would be another successful night at the dish for Perez who finished 2-for-2 with an RBI in the win. 

Newman would get things rolling with the long ball in the third hitting a 2-run blast that gave Missoula a 4-1 advantage. After being held scoreless in the fourth, Newman would send a towering blast over the wall in left  to give Missoula their largest lead of the night at 6-1. After the dust settled, Newman would finish the night 4-for-4 with 5 driven in prior to his appearance on the mound. 

Great Falls would tighten things up in the sixth inning thanks to a 3-run rally that made the score 6-4. Eddie McCabe hit a ball off the top of the wall in right for a double to bring home a pair in the frame to highlight the inning. Despite the late jolt, that would be the last time the Voyager offense would be heard from as the PaddleHeads pen would hold the line the rest of the way. 

John LaRossa, and Cody Thompson would both deliver solid outings to set it up for Newman in the ninth in 2 ⅓ scoreless. LaRossa would strike out a pair in 1 ⅓, and Thompson would strike out the side in the eighth to hold the Voyagers in check. The effort from the pen would preserve the win for starter Domingo Pena who struck out a season high 10 batters over 5 ⅔ innings to earn his third win of the season. 

The PaddleHeads (18-9) remain in the top spot in the Northern Division standings with the win over Great Falls (17-11). A game off the pace are the Idaho Falls Chukars (17-10) who would also get back in the win column on Friday night. Missoula will be in search of their sixth consecutive win Saturday night  in game 2 of the series opposite the Voyagers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Hear the call on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.