Azuaje Sac Fly in Eighth, Caps off Late Thriller

WP- Rabon Martin (1-0)

LP- Jon Nunnally (2-3)

S-Tyshaun Chapman (3

T- 2:46

A-2,004

Billings, MT—The Billings Mustangs scratch two across in the eighth inning to defeat the Idaho Falls Chukars 5-4.

Both teams were rewarded with strong starting pitching tonight. The Chukars plated a run early in the first inning. After a two-out walk to Matt Feinstein, Hunter Hisky belted a double to left-center field to score Feinstein and take a 1-0 lead. Yasnier Laureano, the Mustangs starter, would bounce back by retiring the next 12 batters of the game. The next Chukars batter didn’t reach safely until the fifth inning.

In the second inning, Cameron Comer blasted his fifth long ball of the year to tie the game at one.

Neither team would score until the sixth inning. After Ari Kaufman walked in a run to tie the game, Tyler Van Marter singled through the hole on the left side of the infield to hand the lead back to the Chukars.

After a Matt Feinstein sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning, the Mustangs chipped into the deficit with a Jesus Azuaje double down the left-field line to score Brandt Broussard. The Mustangs now trailed just 4-3.

Daniel Silva, the Chukars starting pitcher, exited after seven innings on the hill. He struck out eight and allowed just three runs. The Mustangs seized the opportunity by scoring two runs in the eighth inning off Jon Nunnally to take a 5-4 lead. After a strikeout to the first batter, Nunnally struggled. He yielded a pair of singles to Freddy Achecar and Marcus Skundrich before walking the bases loaded.

Brandt Broussard worked a deep count resulting in the tying run being walked in. With the bases loaded, the next batter Jesus Azuaje, flew a ball in the air to center field that was deep enough to score Marcus Skundrich from third base. Mustangs now led 5-4.

Tyshaun Chapman came in the ninth to slam the door and earn his third save of the season as the Mustangs down the Chukars 5-4.

In his second start of the year, Laureano worked 5+ innings and struck out five while allowing just two runs on two hits.

The Mustangs (41-48/23-18) and Chukars meet again tomorrow at Dehler Park for game three of a six-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. and don’t forget to catch the pre-game show starting at 6:15 P.M. on ESPN Billings 910 AM/105.5 FM or online at espn910.com.