PL Great Falls Voyagers

Wild Pitches Spoil Great Falls Comeback

July 30, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Great Falls Voyagers News Release


BILLINGS, Mont. (July 29, 2015) - The Great Falls Voyagers scored five in the eighth to tie things up, but the Billings Mustangs walked-off on a wild pitch to claim the series with a 7-6 victory Wednesday night at Dehler Park.

Trailing 6-1 entering the eighth, the Voyagers (1-1, 18-20) exploded on the Billings bullpen to tie the game. After the first batter of the inning was retired, the next five reached. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for Antonio Rodriguez, who hit a ground ball that was booted by Shane Mardirosian, plating the first two of the frame.

Johan Cruz singled to get Great Falls another run back, before a passed ball got the visitors within one. With two down, Grant Massey whistled a double into the right field corner, capping the five-run frame and tying things up at six apiece.

In the ninth, the Voyagers got the potential go-ahead run to second with one out, but Jimmy Herget (2-0) struck out the side to keep the contest tied.

Billings (1-1, 18-21) got a lead-off single by Mardirosian in their half of the ninth, moving him into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Mardirosian was then replaced by Hector Vargas, who moved to third and then scored on a pair of wild pitches by Lucas Shearrow, giving the Mustangs their second walk-off win of the season over Great Falls.

The Mustangs scored first Wednesday, stringing together back-to-back one-out hits in the first, with a Kevin Garcia single putting the home team up 1-0.

Great Falls tied things up in the fourth, as Zach Fish started the frame with a double, scoring later in the inning on a double play.

Billings answered in their half of the fourth, going back in front on a wild pitch and RBI ground by Jose Duarte.

The fourth started a run of Billings scoring in four straight innings, as they added to their lead with single runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh against the Voyager bullpen.

Great Falls pitching gave up 15 hits for the night, a new season-high. The loss ends the Voyagers road trip with a 1-6 record, and pushes their overall record to two games under .500 for just the second time in 2015.

The Voyagers return home Thursday night to begin a four-game series with the Helena Brewers at Centene Stadium. Great Falls will send righty Matt Ball (0-3, 7.04) to the mound, while Helena will counter with fellow right-hander Joshua Torres (2-0, 3.44). 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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