Helena, MT - In a series where nobody had a distinct advantage in a single game, it seemed only appropriate that the rubber game of the series between the Brewers and Mustangs went to the ninth inning with a one run margin. Helena held a 5-4 lead, but it disappeared
Helena, MT - In a series where nobody had a distinct advantage in a single game, it seemed only appropriate that the rubber game of the series between the Brewers and Mustangs went to the ninth inning with a one run margin. Helena held a 5-4 lead, but it disappeared with one out, as with Jay Schuyler on and one out, Pabel Manzanero blasted a ball to deep left center for his sixth homer, giving Billings the 6-5 lead. The Brewers went down in order in the ninth, falling 6-5. Helena is now three games back of Billings for first place.
Helena got on the board first on a leadoff homer from David Fry in the second. The Mustangs though tied the game in the fourth, as Drew Mount reached on an error, and scored all the way from first on a Juan Martinez double.
The Mustangs took the lead in the top of the fifth on a solo homer from Mariel Bautista, but Helena took the lead back with two in the bottom of the frame. Bryan Torres and Pablo Abreu singled to start the frame, and runners then were at the corners with one out after a Jose Sibrian fielders choice. A wild pitch with Luis Avila up scored Torres to tie the game, and Jesus Lujano singled home Sibrian to give Helena the 3-2 lead.
Yet Billings wasn't done, as in the eighth, Jenri Montas issued a leadoff walk to Bren Spillane, and Harris then reached on an error. Chad Whitmer entered and threw a wild pitch, moving both runners up. Mount grounded out and the runners held, but another wild pitch scored Spillane to tie the game. Juan Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to bring home the go ahead run.
Helena though took the lead back in the bottom of the eighth, as Avila doubled to lead off the frame, followed by walks to Lujano and Brice Turang. Chad McClanahan stood in, and a wild pitch from Ryan Campbell brought home the tying run, and a sacrifice fly from McClanahan plated the go ahead run, putting Helena up 5-4.
However, Billings had the last laugh, as Jay Schuyler singled to lead off the ninth against Peter Strzelecki. Two batters later, Pabel Manzanero homered to deep left center to give Billings their third different lead of the game. Helena went down in order in the ninth against Ryan Dunne.
The Brewers are off until Thursday, when they will travel to Grand Junction, CO for a four game set with the Rockies. First pitch on Thursday is at 6:40 PM.
