Billings, MT - After getting dominated by Luis Alecis (W, 1-1) in Billings on Friday, the Brewers proceeded to score at least five runs in their next five games, all coming against Great Falls. Facing Alecis again in Billings, the Brewers bats went silent, managing just two hits against him
Billings, MT - After getting dominated by Luis Alecis (W, 1-1) in Billings on Friday, the Brewers proceeded to score at least five runs in their next five games, all coming against Great Falls. Facing Alecis again in Billings, the Brewers bats went silent, managing just two hits against him in 5.2 innings, as Billings edged Helena 3-1, snapping their winning streak at three.
Alecis and Helena starter Wilfred Salaman (L, 1-1) threw up zeroes through the first two innings, but a costly defensive mistake plated Billings their first run in the third. Carlos Rivero drew a leadoff walk, and with one out, got to third on a fielding error from Jean Carmona on a Reshard Munroe ground ball. Mariel Bautista then hit a sac fly, easily scoring Rivero to put Billings up 1-0.
Salaman dealt scoreless fifth and sixth innings, but Helena's offense couldn't break through against Alecis. The Brewers got two on in the fourth and failed to score, but their best chance to tie the game came in the fifth, as a Nick Egnatuk leadoff walk got to second on an Eddie Silva ground out. Alecis struck out Pablo Abreu, then walked Jesus Lujano, but Yeison Coca grounded out to Alecis, ending the threat.
Billings added two key insurance runs in the sixth against Brandon Presley, as a leadoff bunt single from Bautista came home two batters later, as Drew Mount launched his second home run of the year, making it a 3-0 game.
Alecis departed with a runner on in the sixth, and Andy Cox and Jeremy Kivel held the Brewers scoreless over the next 2.1 innings. Silva singled home the lone run of the game for Helena in the ninth against Dauri Moreta, but they never got the tying run on base, falling 3-1. The Brewers have scored just three runs in three games at Dehler Park in 2018.
The Brewers look to even the series tomorrow as they send lefty Blake Lillis to the hill. Ricardo Smith takes the ball for Billings, making his first start against the Brewers. First pitch is at 7:05, with the pregame show hitting the airwaves of helenabrewers.net at 6:50 PM.