Great Falls Loses Again by One to Billings
September 3, 2014 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
BILLINGS, Mont. (September 2, 2014) - For the second straight day, the Great Falls Voyagers lost a one-run contest to Billings, falling 6-5 at Dehler Park to give the Mustangs the season series win with nine wins in the 16 meetings.
Great Falls (15-21, 38-36) got things off on the right foot, scoring right away in the first. With two outs, Zach Fisher took Mustangs starter Soid Marquez deep for a two-run homer, his eighth of the season.
The Mustangs (23-13, 40-34) had an answer in the bottom of the frame. Taylor Sparks launched a two-run homer off Voyager starter Grant Monroe (1-3), evening the score at two apiece.
The home team then followed that up with a big second inning to grab the lead. Brian O'Grady brought home the first two tallies of the frame with a double, then came in to score on an RBI triple from Argenis Aldazoro. Aristides Aquino capped the four-run frame with a single, collecting his league-leading 64th RBI of the campaign in the process.
In the fourth, the visitors pulled a pair back, with consecutive two-out knocks. First it was Ryan Jones doubling in a run, then Ethan Gross followed with a run-producing single.
The Billings lead then shrank to one in the sixth as Gross picked up his third hit of the night, another RBI single off Jeremy Kivel (1-4), to cut the advantage to 6-5.
Over the final three innings, the Billings bullpen took over, as they did not allow a hit, and allowed only two Voyagers to reach base.
After Monroe's rough start, the Great Falls bullpen helped the visitors stay in it. Jon Bengard tossed a career-high three scoreless innings, Alex Powers put up a pair of zeroes, then Devon Davis threw a scoreless eighth to keep the Voyagers within striking distance.
The Voyagers return home to begin their final homestand of the regular season Wednesday when they start a two-game set with the Missoula Osprey. Great Falls will send righty Yelmison Peralta (0-1, 4.15) to the mound, while Missoula will counter with a right-hander of their own, Touki Toussaint (1-2, 15.30). First pitch is set for 7:00 and coverage will begin at 6:45 on 1400 AM KXGF and gfvoyagers.com.
Pioneer League Stories from September 3, 2014
- Voyagers Game Notes: September 3 vs. Missoula - Great Falls Voyagers
- Raptors Win Home Finale - Ogden Raptors
- Lomangino Leads Home Finale Win over Orem - Grand Junction Jackalopes
- Osprey Spoil Home Finale for Brewers - Helena Brewers
- Great Falls Loses Again by One to Billings - Great Falls Voyagers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
