Helena, MT - With the game tied at four after nine innings, the Helena Brewers went to extra frames with the Ogden Raptors. Previously 2-0 in extra inning ballgames, Helena allowed the Raptors to score three in the top of the tenth. The Brewers got the tying run in scoring
Helena, MT - With the game tied at four after nine innings, the Helena Brewers went to extra frames with the Ogden Raptors. Previously 2-0 in extra inning ballgames, Helena allowed the Raptors to score three in the top of the tenth. The Brewers got the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the tenth, but couldn't tie the game, falling 7-5. Helena is now 1-5 on the season against Ogden.
The Brewers patience paid off early as David Fry led off the second with a four pitch walk. LG Castillo then singled into center field on the first pitch he saw from Kevin Malisheski, moving Fry to third. Je'Von Ward then walked on five pitches, loading the bases with nobody out. Malisheski then plunked Eddie Silva to bring home the game's first run. He got the next two, but an infield single from Yeison Coca brought home Castillo, making it 2-0 Brewers.
Ogden got on the board with one out in the third, as Chris Roller hit a solo homer, his fifth of the season. Helena got that run back in the bottom of the fourth, as Je'Von Ward started the frame with a leadoff single. With Silva up, Ward stole second, but the throw from catcher Ramon Rodriguez went into center field. Ward then took third, and the throw from center fielder James Outman went into the third base dugout, scoring Ward to extend Helena's lead to 3-1
The Raptors were far from done, as Niko Hulsizer hit a solo blast in the fourth to cut the Brewers lead to 3-2. Helena starter Justin Bullock exited after five innings in line for the win, allowing just the two solo home runs. He quickly earned a no decision though, as Drew Avans and Dillon Paulson hit back to back homers to start the sixth against Jenri Montas to take a 4-3 lead. The four homers allowed in the game were the most allowed by the Brewers in a contest all season.
Helena though tied the game in the seventh, as with runners at first and second, Orlandy Navarro threw a wild ball four to Fry. Coca, the runner at second, was off and running on a full count, and when the ball squirted away, he rounded third and scored to tie the game.
In his Helena debut, lefty Michael Mediavilla pitched 2.1 innings of shutout baseball, striking out five of the eight batters he faced. The Brewers had a chance to walk off in the ninth after Luis Pasen (1-0) walked two with two out. Fry hit a smash to third that Ronny Brito fielded cleanly to end the inning and send the game to extras.
Minor League Baseball's extra inning rules start the tenth inning with a runner at second. The corner infielders played in for Jacob Amaya expecting a bunt, but he swung away and singled to left, moving Roller the runner to third. A ground out from Avans scored Roller and moved Amaya to second. Helena's infield then played a pull shift on Paulson, but he went the opposite way for a single, scoring Amaya to make it 6-4 Ogden. Paulson advanced to second on the throw, and it proved critical as Ronny Brito singled him home against Joey Matulovich (L,0-1), making it 7-4 Raptors.
Pasen got the first two he faced in the tenth, but Silva kept the game alive with an RBI single to left. Nick Egnatuk then singled to right, putting the tying run on. With the infield back, Jesus Lujano bunted down the third base line, reaching first easily to load the bases and move the tying run into scoring position. Coca though grounded out to short, ending the game.
Helena looks for the series split tomorrow as Wilfred Salaman takes the hill. Ogden counters with righty Caleb Sampen. First pitch is at 7:05 PM, and you can get your tickets by visiting helenabrewers.net.
