Link Report for Mon. 8/30 -- Eight in a row for Helena; Maryvale on to Championship Game

[Mass Haas]

http://www.brewerfan.net/images/store/dailylinkreport.jpg

[Mass Haas]

Wisconsin: RHP Hiram Burgos at home vs. Kane County (Athletics), 11:45 AM pre-game; 12:05 PM gametime

Live Audio Link

 

***

Box Score / Game Log

 

Wisconsin

 

***

 

MID Western
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Quad Cities	37	24	.607	-	-	12-15	25-9	5-5	L1
	Clinton	35	27	.565	2.5	-	20-13	15-14	7-3	L1
	Kane County	33	28	.541	4.0	7	17-12	16-16	5-5	L1
*	Cedar Rapids	33	29	.532	4.5	7	17-14	16-15	4-6	W1
	Beloit	31	28	.525	5.0	5	17-13	14-15	5-5	W2
	Peoria	30	30	.500	6.5	4	17-15	13-15	5-5	W1
	Wisconsin	30	32	.484	7.5	4	16-14	14-18	6-4	W1
	Burlington	20	39	.339	16.0	E	14-17	6-22	4-6	L3

***

 

Rattler Radio:

August 30, 2010: Midwest League Playoff Pitcure

 

August 30, 2010: Game Notes

 

August 30, 2010: Today's Starting Pitcher

 

August 30, 2010: Starting Lineup

[Mass Haas]

The rest of Monday's Daily Menu:

Times Central; pitchers subject to change --

 

Nashville: RHP Tim Dillard at Oklahoma City (Rangers), 6:50 PM pre-game; 7:05 gametime

Live Audio Link

 

Huntsville: Idle

 

Brevard County: Idle

 

Helena: RHP Austin Ross at Idaho Falls (Royals), 8:00 PM pre-game; 8:15 gametime

Live Audio Link

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale): at home vs. the Rangers' squad, 9:00 PM; never audio for games in this league -- this is a one-game playoff to reach the league championship game

 

DSL Brewers: Season complete

[Mass Haas]

A $6.95 subscription to MiLB.TV will allow you to see live and archived games from the four-game Helena series at Idaho Falls which began Friday, along with the coming Nashville series in Oklahoma City, which starts today.

[Mass Haas]

Follow Monday's action as it happens:
Here's what you do, right click on each of the links below and choose "Open in New Tab or New Window". Choose "Recap". While you're listening to your minor league game of choice (or watching/listening to the big league Crew when they are playing), simply refresh your game log browsers every so often.

Nashville (Gameday also available)

Helena

Arizona Rookie (Maryvale)

[Mass Haas]

PCL American North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Iowa	77	58	.570	-	-	37-31	40-27	6-4	W1
	Memphis	77	59	.566	0.5	9	45-25	32-34	8-2	W6
	Omaha	74	62	.544	3.5	6	36-32	38-30	4-6	L1
	Nashville	72	63	.533	5.0	5	39-31	33-32	7-3	W2

SOU North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
*#	Tennessee	40	23	.635	-	-	25-10	15-13	6-4	L1
	Huntsville	31	31	.500	8.5	E	18-13	13-18	3-7	W1
	Chattanooga	30	33	.476	10.0	E	16-19	14-14	5-5	L1
	West Tenn	28	35	.444	12.0	E	15-13	13-22	4-6	L4
	Carolina	26	35	.426	13.0	E	12-18	14-17	3-7	L1

FSL North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Tampa	39	22	.639	-	-	19-9	20-13	6-4	L1
	Daytona	37	25	.597	2.5	6	22-11	15-14	5-5	W1
	Brevard County	34	30	.531	6.5	2	18-17	16-13	3-7	L5
	Lakeland	31	31	.500	8.5	E	14-11	17-20	5-5	L1
	Clearwater	28	34	.452	11.5	E	15-14	13-20	6-4	W3
*	Dunedin	27	36	.429	13.0	E	15-19	12-17	5-5	W1

PIO North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
	Helena	17	9	.654	-	-	7-5	10-4	9-1	W7
*	Great Falls	16	12	.571	2.0	10	10-4	6-8	8-2	W2
	Billings	13	13	.500	4.0	9	8-6	5-7	6-4	L1
	Missoula	11	17	.393	7.0	5	6-8	5-9	2-8	L4

AZL Central
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
#	AZL Brewers	34	22	.607	-	-	13-12	12-10	3-6	W1
&	AZL Reds	31	24	.564	2.5	E	12-8	14-9	8-2	W6
	AZL Dodgers	30	25	.545	3.5	E	12-11	13-8	5-5	L1
	AZL Indians	21	35	.375	13.0	E	8-14	10-13	2-8	L2

DSL S.D. North
	Club	W	L	PCT	GB	*ELIM #	Home	Away	L 10	Streak
#	DSL Mariners	43	28	.606	-	-	23-13	20-15	7-3	L1
	DSL Cardinals	39	32	.549	4.0	E	24-11	15-21	5-5	L2
	DSL Athletics	32	39	.451	11.0	E	17-19	15-20	6-4	W2
	DSL Brewers	28	43	.394	15.0	E	17-18	11-25	3-7	W1

[WV Brew]

Devo 2 feet from a walk off homer. They hold the man at 3rd. Intentional walk to Dennis, double play and a line drive caught by a leaping fielder and the T-Rats go down again. Devo with his 17th outfield assist today.

[Mass Haas]

MiLB.com takes a brief look at the four Arizona League playoff participants.

[Mass Haas]

PDF document:

 

Nashville Media Notes

[battlekow]

Final: Kane County 4, @Wisconsin 3

Cougars crush Rattlers comeback

Chris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

GRAND CHUTE, WI – The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers trailed the Kane County Cougars 4-1 heading to the bottom of the ninth inning at Time Warner Cable Field on Monday afternoon. Wisconsin rallied for two runs and had the bases loaded with no outs, but two key defensive plays by third baseman Leonardo Gil ended the game and gave the Cougars a 4-3 win. The loss knocked the Rattlers to 4-1/2 games behind Kane County in the Midwest League’s second half Western Division Wild Card race with just seven games to play.

 

Kane County (66-65 overall, 34-28 second half) grabbed the early lead with some heads up base running. Anthony Aliotti drew a leadoff walk and took second on a wild pitch. Rayshun Dixon sent a grounder to the hole at short, and Aliotti noticed that no one was covering third base. He took third as Dixon reached on the infield single. Rattlers starting pitcher Hiram Burgos got the second out on a strikeout. But, Tyreace House beat out a potential inning ending double play ball for a fielder’s choice and Aliotti scored for a 1-0 lead.

 

In his last two starts, Burgos had pitched 14 innings without walking a batter. But, the top of the third inning became a very frustrating inning for the Rattlers’ starter. Conner Crumbliss drew a one out walk. Burgos got the second out with a strikeout. Then, Gil drew a walk. Then, Aliotti drew a walk to load the bases. Dixon took some borderline pitches that were called balls and drew a bases loaded walk to force in Kane County’s second run.

 

Jason Christian stepped up next and took a strike. But, the next two close pitches were ruled balls. Christian lined the next pitch to right for a two-run single and a 4-0 lead. Before the next Kane County batter could stride to the plate, Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook was ejected by home plate umpire Rich Gonzales.

 

Burgos settled in for the rest of the game, but the damage had been done. He pitched 5-1/3 innings, walked six and struck out six.

 

Wisconsin (56-75, 30-33) struggled against Cougars starting pitcher Rich Straily. The Rattlers did not get their first hit off Straily until the fifth inning. Cameron Garfield doubled to right and took third on an error. Michael Marseco followed with a double to left-center and the Rattlers were on the board.

 

Straily would give up just one more hit in his time on the mound. Straily allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven over seven innings. He has 152 strikeouts this season and has taken over the lead in that category in the Midwest League.

 

Kentrail Davis started the comeback attempt for the Rattlers in the bottom of the ninth. He started the inning with a single off the legs of Cougars reliever Connor Hoehn. Hunter Morris was next and he doubled to left-center to put runners at second and third. Khris Davis drew a walk and ball four was a wild pitch that let Kentrail Davis score the second run of the game.

 

D’Vontrey Richardson almost ended the game on the next pitch. The Rattlers centerfielder lined the first pitch he saw from Hoehn deep to left field. The ball banged off the 16-foot high wall about two feet from the top for a double to score Morris, send Davis around to third base, and make the score 4-3. That ended Hoehn’s day.

 

Ryan Doolittle came out of the Cougars bullpen and intentionally walked designated hitter Chris Dennis. That brought Garfield to the plate and set the stage for Gil.

 

Garfield sent a chopper to third base. Gil charged the ball and got the force play on Davis at the plate. The relay to first was in time for the 5-2-3 double play. But, Wisconsin still had the tying run at third and the winning run at second base.

 

Marseco worked the count to 2-2 and sent a line drive that looked like it was headed for the left field corner for a game winning hit. However, Gil made a leaping grab to snare the liner and end the game.

 

The Rattlers and Cougars play again on Tuesday night at Time Warner Cable Field. Jake Odorizzi (7-3, 3.34) is the scheduled starting pitcher for Wisconsin. It will be his first start since he tossed eight no-hit innings at Cedar Rapids on August 23. Kane County will send Aaron Larsen, a 34th round pick of the Oakland Athletics in the 2010 draft, to the hill for his Midwest League debut. Game time is 6:35pm.

 

Tuesday night is a WAPL Bang For Your Buck Night with soda, hotdogs, and Miller Beer are available for $1. Additionally, it is a KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets. Fans who bring in a KRAFT Singles package wrapper and purchase one reserved seat will receive a second reserved seat free.

 

If you can’t make it out to Time Warner Cable Field, you can tune into the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:15pm.

 

Wisconsin box score

Wow, can't believe Burgos walked six; Hook must have had a point. Andy Sauter, somewhat shockingly, pitched 3.2 scoreless innings after Burgos left and didn't walk anyone. Ke. Davis finished 2-3 with a double and a walk; Richardson also added a walk to his double. Hoehn was the Brewers' 21st-round pick in 2007 but did not sign.

 

Wisconsin play-by-play

[colbyjack]

The Sounds are facing Brandon McCarthy this evening in Oklahoma City, and Gamel so far is 0-for-3 with 3 Ks. Farris on the other hand is 3-for-3 with 3 stolen bases.

[Never Outhustled]

The Sounds are facing Brandon McCarthy this evening in Oklahoma City

 

Now that he's back from injury, I'd love to add him to our team, right now. It certainly looks like he's healthy tonight, with 9 K's.

[brewmann04]

i wonder if Dilliard will get a call up and be used a spot starter in september.

[ELCABALLO45]

Bad night for Gamel. 0-4, 4 k

[battlekow]

Final: @Oklahoma City 3, Nashville 1

Sounds drop road trip opener to RedHawks, 3-1

Nashville Sounds

 

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Nashville Sounds lost to the Oklahoma City RedHawks, 3-1, in the opener of a five game set on Monday night at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark.

 

With the loss, Nashville fell to 72-64 and has now dropped 17 of the last 20 games at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City during the last three seasons.

 

Eric Farris went 3-for-4 while swiping a team-high three stolen bases, marking the third time a Sound has achieved the feat after Trent Oeltjen and Norris Hopper each stole three bases in a game this season.

 

The Sounds lone run came on the first play of the game, as Adam Stern crushed the second pitch from RedHawks starter Brandon McCarthy over the left field wall to give Nashville the early 1-0 lead. It was Stern's fifth home run of the season and Nashville's first game-opening home run since Tony Gwynn went yard on May 11, 2009 at Omaha.

 

Oklahoma City went ahead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. After former Sound Hernan Iribarren walked and Matthew Brown singled, Gregorio Petit hit a two-out two-run double to left field before being thrown out trying to stretch the hit in to a triple to end the inning.

 

The RedHawks tacked on a late insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning as Ryan Garko tripled home James Tomlin for a 3-1 late advantage.

 

Tim Dillard (4-7) picked up the tough loss after tossing his third consecutive quality start. The Sounds right-hander gave up two runs on eight hits while fanning eight in seven innings pitched. As a starter this season, Dillard has recorded a 2.81 ERA (13er/41.2ip) in seven starts, including only three earned runs over his last 22.0 innings thrown.

 

Carlos Villanueva surrendered one run in one inning pitched in relief.

 

McCarthy (4-1) allowed one run on eight hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings pitched for the win. Warren Madrigal and Pedro Strop each followed with scoreless frames.

 

Joe Koshansky doubled to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games n the loss.

 

The Sounds and RedHawks will play a scheduled doubleheader beginning at 5:05 pm CT at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark on Tuesday afternoon. Left-hander Chase Wright (7-8, 4.94) will start the first game for the Sounds opposite right-hander Omar Beltre (3-8, 2.53). Left-hander Chuck Lofgren (7-8, 5.14) toes the rubber in the nightcap for Nashville against Doug Mathis (5-6, 5.75).

 

Nashville box score

I still bold Iribarren's name every time and have to undo it. Stern added a single to his homer and also had two outfield assists (both nailing Gregorio Petit). As mentioned, Mat Gamel took home a golden sombrero.

 

Nashville play-by-play

[battlekow]

Final: Helena 5, @Idaho Falls 3

Helena box score

Eight in a row! This one was difficult, as Alex Jones and Eric Marzec allowed the tying run to score in the bottom of the 8th, but the unstoppable juggernaut that is Helena's offense stormed back with two in the top of the 9th to secure the win. Austin Ross continues to dominate Rookie ball: 6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 HBP, 7 K, 8/2 GO/AO. Robbie Garvey went deep for the H-Crew, and Shea Vucinich and Carlos George had two hits. Mike Walker again drew three free passe, 53 now in 289 PA. Cody Hawn still out.

 

Helena play-by-play

Idaho Falls Bottom of the 8th

• Justin Trapp walks.
• With Yowill Espinal batting, Justin Trapp advances to 2nd on a balk.
• Yowill Espinal out on a sacrifice bunt to first baseman Brandon Sizemore. Justin Trapp to 3rd.
• Pitcher Change: Eric Marzec replaces Alex Jones.
• Murray Watts called out on strikes.
• Travis Jones reaches on throwing error by shortstop Carlos George. Justin Trapp scores.
• Malcom Culver flies out to center fielder Franklin Romero.

Helena Top of the 9th

• John Dishon strikes out swinging.
• Carlos George singles on a ground ball to shortstop Justin Trapp.
• Franklin Romero strikes out swinging.
• Shea Vucinich singles on a fly ball to right fielder Reggie Taylor. Carlos George to 3rd.
• With
  Gregory Hopkins batting, Shea Vucinich steals (4) 2nd base, Carlos
  George scores. Shea Vucinich scores. Throwing error by catcher
  Travis Jones.
• Gregory Hopkins pops out to shortstop Justin Trapp.

Must have been some throwing error.

[Mass Haas]

Final: @Arizona Brewers 6, Arizona Rangers 5

 

MiLB.com:

 

Brewers overcome early deficit, rally past Rangers

 

Kyle Dhanini hit a key double and Yadiel Rivera homered to lead the Brewers to a 6-5 win over the Rangers.

 

Dhanini hit a go-ahead two-RBI double with one out and the bases loaded in the eighth inning. It was the only hit of the night for the Brewers' 2009 43rd-round pick. Rivera slugged a three-run homer in the second after the Rangers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first.

 

Brewers starter Charly Bashara allowed four runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings. Greg Holle was credited with the win in relief, allowing a hit and fanning three in 2 2/3 shutout innings.

 

Rangers starter Carlos Melo struck out 13 and allowed three runs on four hits over six innings.

 

Arizona Box Score

On to play the Reds in Maryvale Tuesday night for the league championship, as the Reds defeated the Giants, also 6-5; LHP Dexter Bobo, RHP Greg Holle, and RHP Jose Sanchez finished up nicely after an uncharacteristic shaky outing from LHP Charly Bashara; BOO! to the fancy new playoff box score format -- you'll notice that, at least for now, the detailed stats for the Rangers offense are listed twice, the Brewers batters not at all; 2B Nick Shaw tripled and singled out of the leadoff spot; LF Derrick Shaw (no relation) had the other multi-hit game; Brewers were out-hit, 12-7; stats don't count towards regular season totals...

 

Arizona Game Log

Brewers shook this off quickly -- three in the 2nd, then the huge 8th inning go-ahead rally...

 

AZL Rangers Top of the 1st

• Teodoro Martinez singles on a line drive to center fielder Kenneth Allison.
  
• Luis Sardinas doubles (1) on a line drive to center fielder Kenneth Allison. Teodoro Martinez scores.
  
• Odubel Herrera grounds out, third baseman Thomas Mittelstaedt to first baseman Jason Rogers.
  
• Tomas Telis singles on a line drive to right fielder John Bivens. Luis Sardinas scores.
  
• Christian Villanueva doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Derrick Shaw. Tomas Telis to 3rd.
  
• Travis Meiners flies out to right fielder John Bivens.
  
• Jhonny Gomez singles on a ground ball to right fielder John Bivens. Tomas Telis scores. Christian Villanueva scores.
  
• Alberto Puello grounds out, third baseman Thomas Mittelstaedt to first baseman Jason Rogers.

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 2nd

• Kyle Dhanani strikes out swinging.
  
• Derrick Shaw singles on a line drive to right fielder Ruben SierraJr.
  
• John Bivens walks. Derrick Shaw to 2nd.
  
• Yadiel Rivera homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Derrick Shaw scores. John Bivens scores.
  
• Nick Shaw triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Teodoro Martinez.
  
• Kenneth Allison strikes out swinging.
  
• Jason Rogers strikes out swinging.

AZL Brewers Bottom of the 8th

• Nick Shaw singles on a ground ball to left fielder Travis Meiners.
  
• Kenneth Allison singles on a bunt ground ball to third baseman Christian Villanueva. Nick Shaw to 2nd.
  
• Jason Rogers walks. Nick Shaw to 3rd. Kenneth Allison to 2nd.
  
• Pitcher Change: Joseph Van Meter replaces Anthony Haase.
  
• Thomas Mittelstaedt walks. Nick Shaw scores. Kenneth Allison to 3rd. Jason Rogers to 2nd.
  
• Pitcher Change: Jose Monegro replaces Joseph Van Meter.
  
• Tyler Roberts strikes out swinging.
  
• Kyle Dhanani doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Teodoro Martinez. Kenneth Allison scores. Jason Rogers scores. Thomas Mittelstaedt to 3rd.
  
• Derrick Shaw pops into double play, second baseman Odubel Herrera to catcher Alberto Puello. Thomas Mittelstaedt out at home.

Tight to the end --

AZL Rangers Top of the 9th

• Pitcher Change: Jose Sanchez replaces Gregory Holle.
  
• Jhonny Gomez grounds out, second baseman Nick Shaw to first baseman Jason Rogers.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Johnathan Moore replaces Alberto Puello.
  
• Johnathan Moore grounds out, third baseman Thomas Mittelstaedt to first baseman Jason Rogers.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Drew Robinson replaces Ruben SierraJr.
  
• Drew Robinson singles on a ground ball to right fielder John Bivens.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Braxton Lane replaces Drew Robinson.
  
• Teodoro Martinez singles on a ground ball to right fielder John Bivens. Braxton Lane to 2nd.
  
• Luis Sardinas flies out to left fielder Derrick Shaw.

Wow, check out Holle's work here in the 6th!

 

AZL Rangers Top of the 6th

• Christian Villanueva doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Derrick Shaw.
  
• Travis Meiners triples (1) on a line drive to left fielder Derrick Shaw. Christian Villanueva scores.
  
• Jhonny Gomez grounds out, shortstop Yadiel Rivera to first baseman Jason Rogers.
  
• Pitcher Change: Gregory Holle replaces Dexter Bobo.
  
• Alberto Puello strikes out swinging.
  
• Ruben SierraJr. strikes out swinging.

[JohnBriggs12]

i wonder if Dilliard will get a call up and be used a spot starter in september.

Forget spot starts, he should take Bush's spot the rest of the year. True, he's probably not the answer for next year. But he does have the best form right now of any starter in the higher levels, so what do they have to lose looking at him for a month? While Narveson's numbers aren't great, he's got the second best WHIP among Brewers starters and they are 12-10 in his 22 starts. Dillard is in much the same stage of his career Narveson was a year ago. Even if his chances of succeeding at the major league level next year are 10-20%, can this organization afford to dismiss him without another look?

[And That]

I agree about Dillard. His K/9, to me, is acceptable enough due to his highish GB rate of 56%. I'd give him a shot over Butler.

[Mass Haas]

Post-Crescent's Cory Jennerjohn:

The Timber Rattlers playoff hopes just got exponentially tougher after a ninth-inning rally fell short.

 

Wisconsin is now 4 ½ games back in the second half Western Division wild card race with just seven games to play.

 

“We’re going to keep playing, keep battling, keep trying to win and whatever happens, happens,” said Rattlers third baseman Cutter Dykstra, who saw his 13-game hitting streak come to an end.

 

In the final inning, Kentrail Davis legged out a singled off the right leg of Cougars reliever Connor Hoehn, who would allow Davis to score on a wild pitch. That was followed by a Hunter Morris double to left center, a Khris Davis walk and a D’Vontrey Richardson one-run double off the left field wall that just missed being a game-winning home run by five feet. With the bases loaded, Cameron Garfield grounded into a 5-2-3 double play and Michael Marseco hit a line drive right to leaping Cougars third baseman Leonardo Gil.

 

“I like the fight our guys had there down 4-1,” said Timber Rattlers manager Jeff Isom. “Michael Marseco puts a good swing on a ball. If that gets down, two runs score.”

 

The strike zone was a point of contention all day that saw Timber Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook and Kane County outfielder Myrio Richard get tossed.

 

“You can’t get out of your gameplan,” Dykstra said. “You still got to go up there and you know compete. So there’s nothing you can really do about it.”

[Mass Haas]

Jim Oskola, also on the Post-Crescent blog:

 

Where the T-rats came up short

[Mass Haas]

Brad Krause with plenty of Rattlers notes and thoughts and his usual excellent series of photograph galleries. This may be Brad's last report for 2010, if so, thank you very much!

[homer]

On paper, the Helena staff is doing really well. But considering they're mostly college age I need to temper my excitement. Guys like Ross, Garman, Marzec, Nelson, etc. have incredible K/BB and K/9 ratios. I'll be interested to see how they as they move up. I guess Hiram Burgos could be as good a case study as you'll find since he's also college age and dominated that league. He's done OK at Wisconsin since coming back up.

[Mass Haas]

Brewers complete perfect road trip with win over Idaho Falls

By The Helena Independent Record

 

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Carlos George never wanted to get home quite this badly.

 

The Helena Brewers shortstop had suffered through a miserable night, committing four fielding errors, one of which had allowed the tying run to score.

 

But, standing on third base in the ninth inning of a tie game, George took advantage of a wild throw on a pickoff attempt by Idaho Falls catcher Travis Jones and raced home with the winning run as the Brewers completed a perfect seven-game road trip with a 5-3 Pioneer League victory over the Chukars on Monday night.

 

Helena, which comes home for a crucial doubleheader against Billings today at Kindrick Legion Field, extended its season-high winning streak to eight games and its lead over Great Falls to 2 ½ games in the Pioneer League’s North Division.

 

Billings, which finished two games ahead of Helena in the first half of the season, trails the Brewers by 4 ½ games, meaning a Helena sweep tonight would all but guarantee the Brewers a spot in the Pioneer League playoffs.

 

George’s throwing error with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed Justin Trapp to score and tie the game at 3.

 

But George beat out an infield single with one out in the ninth to start Helena’s winning rally. Shea Vucinich followed with a bloop single down the rightfield line, moving George to third. Vucinich then stole second base without a throw. But Jones caught George leading too far from the bag at third and fired to third baseman Correy Figueroa. But the throw was high and both George and Vucinich scored on the play to give Helena a 5-3 lead.

 

The Brewers (37-28 overall, 18-9 second half) had to withstand some nervous moments in the bottom of the ninth, however.

 

After Eric Marzec (4-3) retired the first two batters routinely, Jovan Pickett reached on George’s fourth error of the game. But Marzec got Thomas Zebroski to fly out to center for the final out.