A night after recording their first shutout of the year, the Helena Brewers (26-43, 11-20) were blanked by the Billings Mustangs (31-37, 13-18) 2-0 on Saturday night at Kindrick Legion Field. Billings scored the only runs of the game in the eighth inning. With one out, Montrell Marshall drew a
A night after recording their first shutout of the year, the Helena Brewers (26-43, 11-20) were blanked by the Billings Mustangs (31-37, 13-18) 2-0 on Saturday night at Kindrick Legion Field.
Billings scored the only runs of the game in the eighth inning. With one out, Montrell Marshall drew a walk and was lifted for pinch runner Zeke White. After a strikeout, White stole second base and came in to score on a single to center by Jeter Downs. Miles Gordon and Stuart Fairchild both singled, driving in another run to make it 2-0 Mustangs. Reliever Nelson Hernandez (5-4) took the loss after allowing both runs to score in his 1.0 inning of work.
Brewers starter Alec Bettinger didn't factor into the decision but turned in the best outing by a Brewers pitcher this season. The right-hander tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, allowing just 4 hits while not walking a batter and striking out a career-high six. Bettinger's 7.0 innings surpassed Gabe Friese for the longest outing of the season by Brewers hurler.
Helena had chances to score in the sixth, seventh and eighth inning. Antonio Pinero led off the sixth with a bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error by Mustangs starter Packy Naughton. The Brewers went in order over the next three batters, though, on a line out to short by KJ Harrison and strikeouts by Gabriel Garcia and Jay Feliciano.
In the seventh, Payton Henry single to right to start the frame and was sacrificed to second by Nick Roscetti. Henry moved to third on a groundout by Alex Guenette but was left standing 90 feet from home when Nicolas Pierre struck out to end the inning.
Batting with one out in the eighth, Pinero doubled down the left field line, the only extra base hit of the night for Helena. Harrison singled to left to put men on the corners before Garcia hit into a 5-4-3 double play, halting the Brewers rally.
Helena concludes their two-game series against the Billings Mustangs on Sunday afternoon at 1:05 PM. The Brewers are scheduled to send RHP Michael Petersen (1-2, 6.64) to the mound against Mustangs RHP Luis Alecis (5-6, 4.96). It's the final Sunday Funday of the year, where dogs are welcome to join their owners at Kindrick Legion Field for day baseball. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, over the phone at (406)-495-0500 or online at helenabrewers.net.
