GRAND JUNCTION, CO - The Helena Brewers (17-23, 2-0) used a home run in the first and a home run in the ninth to defeat the Grand Junction Rockies 5-2 at Suplizio Field on Thursday night. Tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth, one of the newest Brewers started
GRAND JUNCTION, CO - The Helena Brewers (17-23, 2-0) used a home run in the first and a home run in the ninth to defeat the Grand Junction Rockies 5-2 at Suplizio Field on Thursday night.
Tied 2-2 in the top of the ninth, one of the newest Brewers started a rally for Helena. Tristen Lutz singled to left, his second hit, before KJ Harrison doubled down the left field line, advancing two men into scoring position with no one out. Facing a drawn in infield, Payton Henry bounced a ball to second and Lutz was thrown out attempting to score the go-ahead run. Jay Feliciano broke the tie in the next at-bat, crushing a three-run homer over the left field wall, his seventh of the season, to give Helena a 5-2 lead.
All-Star Parker Bean came in to close it out for the Brewers, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning, allowing just a walk while locking up his fifth save of the season.
The Brewers got out to one of their trademark early leads in the first. Nicolas Pierre drew a lead off walk, and three batters later, Harrison blasted a ball to the deepest part of the park, clearing the 410 sign in left center field for his second home run of the season, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead. He finished the night 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
Starter Dylan File didn't factor into the decision put tossed his best outing as a pro, throwing 6.0 innings and allowing just one run on a solo home run in the sixth. He walked one and tied a season-high with five strikeouts.
Reliever Karsen Lindell (2-1) was given a blown save after Grand Junction tied the game in the seventh. The Rockies (18-23, 0-3) strung together three straight two-out singles to drive in a run, knotting the game at 2-2.
Helena continues their four-game series with Grand Junction on Friday night at 6:40 PM. The Brewers are scheduled to send RHP Jayson Rose (1-3, 6.35) against Rockies RHP Logan Longwith (2-3, 8.35). The game can be heard on KCAP 95.9 FM/AM 950, MiLB First Pitch App and on helenabrewers.net.
