Five Run First Sends Brewers to Fifth Straight Win

GREAT FALLS, MT - The Helena Brewers (6-6) scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back as they defeated the Great Falls Voyagers (6-6) 10-3 on Friday night at Centene Stadium. Helena has now won five straight, their longest winning streak since August 30, 2015.
In the first, the Brewers started the scoring with two outs. Dallas Carroll recorded his first extra base hit of the season, a double to the opposite field that was followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases. Jay Feliciano singled to left, bringing in two runs to give the Brewers a 2-0 lead. Zach Clarkfollowed with a three-run homer to left, his third of the season, pushing the Brewers lead to 5-0. With their five-run first, the Brewers have now outscored opponents 18-1 in the first inning this season.
Chad McClanahan added to the scoring in the second. With two outs, McClanahan crushed a ball to right field for his first home run as a Helena Brewers, extending the lead to 6-0. McClanahan finished the night 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and a walk.
On the mound, Brewers starter Harold Chirino was locked in from first pitch. The 19-year-old Venezuelan carried a no-hitter into the fourth, giving up his first hit with two-outs in the inning. Chirino (1-1) picked up his first win after hurling 5.0 innings, giving up one run on one hit while walking one and striking out three.
The Brewers kept their foot on the gas in the fourth by plating three more runs. Henry doubled in a run to make it 7-0 and Gabriel Garcia followed with a two RBI single to give the Brewers a 9-0 lead. Henry, Garcia and Feliciano all recorded two hit nights while Carroll went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and two runs scored. Second baseman Franly Mallen also extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the third.
Reliever Cody Martin made his professional debut in the sixth, allowing two runs off two hits while walking a batter in 1.0 inning of work. Jayson Rose picked up his second save of the year by tossing 3.0 scoreless frames, allowing just three hits while not walking a batter and striking out four.
Helena starts a three-game series in Missoula on Saturday night at 7:05 PM against the Osprey. The Brewers send RHP Nelson Hernandez (1-0, 3.27) to the bump against RHP Kai-Wei Lin (0-2, 8.64). The game can be heard locally on KCAP 95.9 FM/AM 950, TuneIn Radio or the MiLB First Pitch App.