As a part of a 26 hit afternoon for the Helena Brewers (27-44, 12-21), outfielder Jay Feliciano recorded five hits and nine RBI to help the Brewers to a 20-13 win over the Missoula Osprey (35-36, 16-17) on Monday evening at Kindrick Legion Field. It's the most runs the Brewers
As a part of a 26 hit afternoon for the Helena Brewers (27-44, 12-21), outfielder Jay Feliciano recorded five hits and nine RBI to help the Brewers to a 20-13 win over the Missoula Osprey (35-36, 16-17) on Monday evening at Kindrick Legion Field. It's the most runs the Brewers have scored since they scored 20 against the Casper Ghosts on August 26, 2010, and their highest hit output since the same game against Casper in 2010 when the Brewers recorded 28 hits.
Feliciano was part of the Brewers scoring from the outset. In the bottom of the first, Antonio Pinero singled and moved to third on a double by KJ Harrison. Gabriel Garcia doubled in both runners, giving Helena a 2-0 lead. Feliciano stepped up and bounced a ball inside the third base bag, scoring Garcia from second for his first RBI of the day. Helena added two more runs in the frame on a double from Chad McClanahan, pushing their lead to 5-0 and chasing Osprey starter Franklyn Soriano (3-5).
In the bottom of the second, Feliciano plate the first of two Brewers runs when he singled with the bases loaded, extending the Brewers lead back to five runs at 6-1. Payton Henry bounced into a fielder's choice that brought in another run to make it 7-1.
Feliciano's biggest hit of the evening came in the third. After Harrison plated a run with a bases loaded sacrifice fly, Garcia was hit by a pitch, loading the bases again for Feliciano. The 21-year-old cranked a 423-foot home run to center field for a grand slam, his eleventh home run of the season, giving him a six RBI day and the Brewers a 12-1 lead.
The Brewers slugger came out for an encore in the sixth inning. Batting with two men on base, Feliciano launched his second home run of the day, pushing the Brewers out to a 16-2 advantage.
Helena pitching allowed four runs in the top of the eighth, but the Brewers bats had a response, including the final hit for Feliciano. Garcia and Feliciano both singled before Payton Henry doubled to center field, plating Garcia. Nick Roscetti singled in Feliciano and the final run of the inning scored when McClanahan bounced into a 4-3 double play, giving the Brewers a season-high 20 runs. With two outs, Nicolas Pierre recorded his first hit with a single to right, assuring every Brewers player at least one hit and capping a season-high 26 hits for Helena. Feliciano finished the night 5-for-6 with two home runs, nine RBI and four runs scored.
Across the line up, several other batters turned in exceptional days. Pinero finished 4-for-4 with two runs scored, his first four-hit game of the season. McClanahan also recorded four hits, going 4-for-6 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Garcia was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, two RBI, a walk, a hit by pitch and two runs scored. Finally, Jose Gomez hit his sixth home run of the season as part of a 3-for-5 day with an RBI, a walk and two runs scored.
Starter Karsen Lindell (3-3) tossed the longest outing of his career, hurling 5.2 innings while allowing just two runs on nine hits and striking out four. Reliever Matt Hardy allowed 10 runs in 3.0 innings of work, including five home runs in the final three innings. In total, the Osprey hit a franchise record seven home runs and scored 10 runs in the final two innings, hitting five of their seven homers in the eighth and ninth.
Helena concludes their 2017 home season on Tuesday night against the Osprey at 7:05 PM. The Brewers are scheduled to send RHP Gabe Friese (3-1, 4.67) to the mound against Osprey LHP Cesilio Pimentel (1-2, 5.57). On Fan Appreciation Day, 2017 player card sets will be given out to the first 200 fans, and prizes will be awarded throughout the night as the Brewers say thank you to our faithful for their support throughout the season. Additionally, it's the last Government Tuesday of the year, with $4 general admission tickets available to all city, county, state and federal employees, good for up to four family members. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, over the phone at (406)-495-0500 or online at helenabrewers.net.
