Great Falls Snaps Four-Game Skid
August 2, 2014 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
GREAT FALLS, MT - The Great Falls Voyagers ended their four-game losing streak Saturday night, besting the Billings Mustangs 5-4 at Centene Stadium to earn a split of the two-game series.
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Great Falls (3-5, 26-20) took a lead that they did not give up the rest of the night. Ryan Jones started things off by tying the game with an RBI single, putting two aboard for Chevy Clarke. Clarke then launched a three-run homer off Mustang reliever Seth Varner (2-1), his first off a lefty this year, making him the first Voyager to hit double-digit long balls in 2014.
The five runs were plenty for Great Falls starter Zach Thompson (2-2), who turned in the longest outing of his career while earning his second win. The righty gave up just one earned run on two hits over six, to earn his first quality start in the minors.
After these two teams played 14 scoreless innings at the start of Friday night's game, the first runs came much quicker this time around, as Billings (5-3, 22-24) scored a pair in the second. Argenis Aldazoro reached on an error to start the frame, then one batter later Jose Duarte took Thompson deep to put the visitors up 2-0.
The Voyagers brought the lead down to one in the third as Dillon Haupt tripled Jake Peter home to collect his 21st RBI of the campaign.
Devon Davis followed Thompson, turning in a pair of scoreless frames with three strikeouts to keep the Voyager lead at three.
Jon Bengard came on in the ninth, and gave up a pair of runs, but closed it out for his sixth save of the season. With that save, Bengard becomes the third pitcher in the Voyager era (2008-present) to collect six saves in a single season, which stands as the current record.
Following an off day on Sunday, the Voyagers will welcome the Orem Owlz in on Monday to begin a four-game series at Centene Stadium. In the series opener, Great Falls will send right-hander Luis Martinez (first start) to the bump, while Orem has yet to announce a starter. 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 August 2, 2014
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- All Phases Come Together in 12-1 Stomping - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Helena Uses Huge Sixth Inning to Down Missoula - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Great Falls Snaps Four-Game Skid - Great Falls Voyagers
- Voyagers Game Notes: August 2 vs. Billings - Great Falls Voyagers
- Chukars Game Notes - Idaho Falls Chukars
- C Zach Fisher promoted to Low-A Kannapolis - Great Falls Voyagers
- Errors Cost Raptors in Loss to Owlz - Ogden Raptors
- Brewers Lose 6th Straight on Road, 4-0 - Helena Brewers
- Owlz Rally to Beat Raptors 9-6 - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Voyagers Lose Longest Game in Their History - Great Falls Voyagers
- Errors Cost Raptors in Loss to Owlz - Ogden Raptors
- Last Night's Problems Surface Again in Another Loss - Idaho Falls Chukars
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