MISSOULA, MT - For the second straight night, the Helena Brewers (15-23) jumped out to a multi-run lead, but saw it evaporate as the Missoula Osprey (19-19) defeated Helena 11-7 at Ogren Park Allegiance Field on Saturday night. With the victory, the Osprey claimed the first half North Division title
MISSOULA, MT - For the second straight night, the Helena Brewers (15-23) jumped out to a multi-run lead, but saw it evaporate as the Missoula Osprey (19-19) defeated Helena 11-7 at Ogren Park Allegiance Field on Saturday night. With the victory, the Osprey claimed the first half North Division title in the Pioneer League.
After scoring a run in the first inning on a Jay Feliciano single, Helena went back-to-back in the second. Following a hit by pitch, Nicolas Pierre launched a two-run home run, his second of the season, to push the lead to 3-0. Dallas Carroll followed with his fifth home run, and second in as many nights, to give Helena a 4-0 lead.
Missoula roared back to tie the game with a pair of two-run home runs in the fourth, before taking a 6-4 on a two-run home run by Juan Araujo in the third inning. Starter Nelson Hernandez lasted just 3.0 innings, his shortest start of the season, allowing six runs on seven hits, including three home runs, while walking two and striking out two.
The Brewers reclaimed the lead in the top of the fourth inning. Carroll and Chad McClanahan both walked to start the frame, setting the stage for Henry, who drove a home run over the centerfield wall, his sixth of the season, to put the Brewers in front 7-6. Henry finished just a single shy of the cycle, going 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, a home run, three RBI and two runs scored.
In the home half of the fourth Missoula tied the game on a Keshawn Lynch single. The Osprey went ahead in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Araujo, giving Missoula an 8-7 lead. Missoula put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth when the first three batters singled, tripled and homered to stretch the Osprey lead to 11-7.
The Brewers start the second half of the Pioneer League season tomorrow night as they finish up a three-game series with the Osprey at 5:15 PM. Helena sends RHP Alec Bettinger (1-1, 6.83) to the mound against Osprey LHP Brady Muller (2-4, 6.75). The game can be heard on KCAP 95.9 FM/AM 950, TuneIn Radio and the MiLB First Pitch App.
