Voyagers Drop Second Straight in Helena
August 23, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release
HELENA, Mont. - For the second straight night, the Great Falls Voyagers fell behind early and were unable to rally, as the Helena Brewers made it two in a row to start the series with an 8-4 win Saturday at Kindrick Legion Field.
Great Falls (12-10, 29-29) scored first Saturday, as the second batter of the game, Dante Flores, took Helena starter Joshua Torres (3-3) deep for his third homer of the year.
The lead did not last long however, as the Brewers (6-16, 22-36) strung together back-to-back two-out knocks in the home half, evening the score on a Jake Gatewood double.
Helena then took the lead with a pair in the second. Carlos Belonis plated the first run with an infield single, before a fielder's choice off the bat of Jose Cuas made it 3-1.
A pair of long balls then chased Voyager starter Matt Ball (2-6) in a four-run third. David Denson hit a solo shot, then Belonis added three more RBIs to his total for the night with a round-tripper of his own to make it a six-run margin.
The six-run edge was plenty for Torres, who did not allow a run after the first, and struck out a career-high nine in five innings.
Great Falls pulled a run back in the sixth, as Johan Cruz started the inning with his third homer of the year, making it 7-2.
In the seventh, the Brewers got that run back, as Denson launched his second homer of the night.
The Voyagers scored twice in the eighth on a fielder's choice and an error, but that was as close as they got as they lost their third straight meeting with Helena.
In relief of Ball, the Great Falls bullpen pitched well, allowing just one run on two hits in five innings. Braulio Ortiz struck out the first five he faced, and Tanner Mendonca whiffed the side in the eighth, as the Voyagers tied their season-high with 15 strikeouts.
The Voyagers and Brewers continue their four-game set Sunday afternoon at Kindrick Legion Field. Great Falls will send righty Brannon Easterling (5-2, 2.90) to the mound, while Helena will turn to fellow right-hander Junior Rincon (3-4, 5.50). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m., and coverage will begin at 12:50 on 1400 AM KXGF and gfvoyagers.com.
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