Billings Hands Great Falls Sixth Straight Loss
August 27, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
GREAT FALLS, Mont. (August 26, 2015)Â - The Great Falls Voyagers slipped to their sixth straight defeat Wednesday, falling 3-2 to the Billings Mustangs at Centene Stadium to see the visitors overtake them in the race for the second Pioneer League North playoff spot.
The Mustangs (13-13, 30-33) wasted no time in scoring the contest's first run. Brantley Bell walked with one out in the first frame, then scored the opening tally of the night on an RBI triple by Shane Mardirosian.
The lead did not last long however, as Great Falls (12-14, 29-33) evened the score in the home half. Antonio Rodriguez drove in the run, plating Landon Lassiter with a fielder's choice to collect his team-leading 37th RBI of the campaign.
Billings then took the lead for good in the fourth. After Hector Vargas kept the inning alive with a two-out base hit, Dalton Carter hit a line drive homer off of Evin Einhardt (5-3), to put the visitors up 3-1.
Great Falls pulled one of the runs back in the fifth. Grant Massey singled, stole his team-high 10th base of the year, then scored on a base hit by Lassiter to bring the Voyagers within one.
That ended up being the last tally of the night for the Voyagers, as Jose Lopez (2-2) made it two straight nights that the Mustangs starter lasted seven innings. The righty struck out a career-high tying eight for the night, allowing two runs to collect his first career quality start.
Great Falls had their opportunities as they left seven on base, but their recent struggles to hit with runners in scoring position continued, as the Voyagers went just 1-for-13 in those situations.
The loss is the season-high sixth in a row for Great Falls, and sees the Mustangs take a half game lead over the Voyagers in the race for the second Pioneer League North playoff spot.
The Voyagers and Mustangs continue their four-game series Thursday night at Centene Stadium. Great Falls will send righty Matt Ball (2-6, 7.24) to the mound, while Billings will counter with fellow right-hander Franderlyn Romero (1-3, 3.83). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and coverage will begin at 6:45 on 1400 AM KXGF and gfvoyagers.com.
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