Mustangs' 8-3 Win Over Rockies Clinches Series
July 14, 2016 - Pioneer League (PL)
Billings Mustangs News Release
The Billings Mustangs (16-10) clinched a series win over the Grand Junction Rockies (12-14) with an 8-3 win in front of 2,939 at Dehler Park on Thursday. The win pushed Billings to six games over .500 for the first time this season and maintained their two game lead in the Pioneer League North Division.
Tony Santillan (1-0) was outstanding in the start, becoming the first Billings pitcher to go six complete innings this season. He had come just an out shy in his last appearance. Santillan gave up just one run on four hits while striking out five. It was his first professional win.
The Mustangs busted open another huge third inning, scoring four runs off a struggling Riley Pint (0-2). They have scored 10 runs over the last two nights in the third inning. Pint lasted just two and two-thirds innings before being pulled. He gave up four runs on five hits and walked four. John Sansone added his first professional homer in the third, a two-run blast to score Taylor Trammell. Sansone went 3-for-5 and came up just a triple shy of the cycle.
Three more runs scored for Billings in the fifth to run away with it and move their lead to six. Sansone led off the inning with a double and later scored when Hector Vargas singled to plate two. Vargas is now on a team-high 12-game hitting streak. Jose Siri is hot on his trail with an active 11-game streak.
The win was the seventh consecutive at Dehler Park for the Mustangs. They look for the series sweep over the Rockies Friday at Dehler. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.
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Pioneer League Stories from July 14, 2016
- Third Inning Dooms Rockies in Billings - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Raptors Pounce on Osprey, 10-4 - Ogden Raptors
- Mustangs' 8-3 Win Over Rockies Clinches Series - Billings Mustangs
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- Late-Inning Homers Not Enough at Ogden - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Owlz Outlast Voyagers in Extra Innings - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Raptors Thrash Osprey, 8-4 - Ogden Raptors
- Voyagers Lose to Orem in Extras - Great Falls Voyagers
- Rockies Routed in Road Trip Opener - Grand Junction Jackalopes
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