Link Report for Sat. 7/2 -- Seven shutout innings for Peralta; three-hit nights for Gindl, Gennett, Morris

[JohnBriggs12]

Just wondering why Sean Halton's 3 hit night (2 more doubles) doesn't merit inclusion with the other 3 in the headline of this thread? His BA is now up to .326.

[Mass Haas]

Voyagers rally for victory

by Jesse Geleynse, Great Falls Tribune

 

The Great Falls Voyagers are quickly learning how difficult it can be for a baseball team to climb out of an early hole.

Turns out it is difficult, but not impossible.

Despite finding itself in a six-run deficit before coming to bat for the second time, the Voyagers kept chipping away and went on to defeat Pioneer League North Division co-leader Missoula 9-8 in come-from-behind fashion in front of 2,094 fans on Saturday at Centene Stadium.

Trailing 8-5 in the bottom of the eighth, the Voyagers rallied. Michael Earley walked and Mark Haddow followed with a home run to cut the deficit to 8-7. After a pair of strikeouts, Andrew Douglas stroked a triple to right-center. Qualon Millender's single scored Douglas with the tying run and David Herbek followed with an RBI double to drive in Millender with the winning run.

The comeback made a winner out of Joseph Dvorsky (1-0), who pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings of relief, fanning three.

With the win, the Voyagers improve to 6-7 and are all alone in third place in the North Division. Helena fell to second place at 7-6, behind Billings, which defeated fourth-place Missoula on Saturday.

It didn't look promising at the outset for Great Falls, as starter Jarrett Casey allowed six runs and 10 hits in the first two innings. Casey had not allowed an earned run in either of his two previous starts this season, the last of which was a 10-3 win over these same Helena Brewers. But the second-year pro out of Northern Kentucky University was not sharp from the outset, surrendering his first earned run of 2011 in the first inning.

The Brewers added five more runs in the top of the second. Mike Nemeth led off with a single and one out later, back-to-back singles from Ruben Ozuna and Williams scored Nemeth. Ozuna scored on an error and Williams came home on an RBI single from Yadiel Rivera. A two-run single by Max Walla scored two more and Helena led 6-0.

Then Great Falls went to work.

The Voyagers cut the deficit to 6-2 in the bottom of the frame as Earley led off with a hit and Haddow followed with a walk. Martin Medina's RBI single scored Earley and an RBI groundout by Brent Tanner chased home Haddow

Tanner led off the bottom of the fifth with a double and later scored on Millender's sacrifice fly to pull to within 7-3. But the Brewers answered in the top of the sixth when Walla's RBI single scored Parker Berberet.

A Haddow groundout scored Joe De Pinto in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 8-4 and Andrew Douglas' inside-the-park home run cut the deficit to 8-5 as Brewers center fielder Ozuna crashed into the fence in right-center.

That was the score heading into the eighth, when the Voyagers rallied.

It was the second consecutive one-run home win for the Voyagers, who won 8-7 in walk-off fashion last Sunday over Missoula.

Douglas was the only Voyagers hitter with more than one hit as Great Falls pounded out nine. Tanner, De Pinto and Herbek each doubled, while Earley, Millender and Medina each singled.

Alex Jones took the loss for Helena, which will return to Great Falls for a 1:00 PM contest today (2:00 Central).

Notes: All nine players in the starting lineup for Helena had a hit after three innings of play...Great Falls manager Ryan Newman was ejected in the fifth inning after arguing that a Chad Pierce pitch had hit Voyagers hitter Millender...Haddow's home run came on an 0-2 pitch from Brewers pitcher Thomas Keeling...The Voyagers are now 2-1 against Helena on the season...Sunday's game will feature the Voyagers' Sam Phippen (0-1, 4.82) against Helena's Andy Moye (1-0, 3.38).

 

***

 

The Helena Independent Record summarized this road contest --

 

GREAT FALLS — The Great Falls Voyagers used a four-run rally in the eighth inning Saturday to push past the visiting Helena Brewers, 9-8, knocking the Brew Crew into second place in the Pioneer League North Division.

It was the Brewers’ ninth game decided by one run this season. Helena falls to 7-6.

The Voyagers (6-7) trailed 8-5 entering the home half of the eighth inning, in a sloppy game marred by six errors — four at the hands of the hosts. Mark Haddow hit a two-run homer to left off of Thomas Keeling, chasing the Brewers lefty. Alex Jones entered in relief and struck out the first two batters he faced, but Andrew Douglas struck a two-out triple. Qualon Millender followed with an RBI single to tie the game, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. That set up David Herbek for his game-winning double.

Helena sent just three up in the ninth, as the comeback kids failed to put together a rally as they’ve done so many times.

The Brewers broke the game wide open in the second frame, going on a hit parade and busting out five runs. In just two innings, all but one Helena batter had recorded a hit, and the Brewers pounded out a season-high 14 in the contest.

Douglas led the Voyagers at the plate, going 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI. He was the only Great Falls player with multiple hits. Meanwhile five different Brewers had at least two hits, with right fielder Max Walla’s 2-for-4, three RBI performance leading the way.

Helena stranded a dozen runners on base, eight of them in scoring position with two outs. The Brewers did hit .333 (6 for 18) with runners in scoring position, however. Helena batsmen also struck out 11 times in the contest.

Voyagers reliever Joe Dvorsky picked up his first win of the season, hurling a no-hitter in the final 1 1/3 innings. Jones was tagged with his first defeat for Helena.

 

CLOSE CALL: Helena center fielder Ruben Ozuna hit the fence hard while chasing Andrew Douglas' inside-the-park home run, leading to a crash audible in the stands. After a several-minute delay, Ozuna remained in the game...the Voyagers' Douglas finished 2-for-4 with his home run and a triple...

 

Helena Box Score

LHP Mike Strong fared the best of the four Brewer hurlers (two ER in his four-inning start); five Brewers had two hits apiece; Yadiel Rivera (1-for-6) gets his name mentioned because he was the only Brewer not to reach base at least twice, that's reverse Link Report typing logic, saving important keystrokes on a beautiful Sunday AM; DH Parker Berberet reached four times, walking thrice; Tyler Roberts replaced Brent Dean behind the plate to begin the bottom of the 8th, no reason listed; the two "J. Casey's" who pitched for the White Sox' squad aren't twins, or even brothers -- that was kind of disappointing to find out...

 

Helena Play-by-Play

The Brewers scored two "add-on" runs once leading 6-2 after two innings, but they needed more -- had their chances:

 

Helena Top of the 6th

• Pitcher Change: Kevin Rath replaces J. Casey.
  
• Nick Ramirez grounds out, first baseman Martin Medina to pitcher Kevin Rath.
  
• Parker Berberet walks.
  
• With Max Walla batting, passed ball by Brent Tanner, Parker Berberet to 2nd.
  
• Max Walla singles on a fly ball to center fielder Qualon Millender. Parker Berberet scores.
  
• Brent Dean reaches on fielding error by third baseman Andrew Douglas. Max Walla to 2nd.
  
• Michael Nemeth flies out to left fielder Michael Earley.
  
• With John Dishon batting, wild pitch by Kevin Rath, Max Walla to 3rd. Brent Dean to 2nd.
  
• John Dishon walks.
  
• Ruben Ozuna grounds out, second baseman Joe De Pinto to first baseman Martin Medina.

Helena Top of the 8th

• Parker Berberet called out on strikes.
  
• Max Walla walks.
  
• With Brent Dean batting, Max Walla caught stealing 2nd base, catcher Brent Tanner to second baseman Joe De Pinto.
  
• Brent Dean walks.
  
• With Michael Nemeth batting, throwing error by Jon Gulbransen on the pickoff attempt, Brent Dean to 3rd.
  
• Michael Nemeth walks.
  
• Pitcher Change: Joe Dvorsky replaces Jon Gulbransen.
  
• With John Dishon batting, Michael Nemeth steals (1) 2nd base.
  
• John Dishon strikes out swinging.

[igor67]

Walla's off to an OK start so far, definitely hitting better than in Arizona the last 2 years. It would be nice if some of that power started to develop and he turned into something.

[battlekow]

Just wondering why Sean Halton's 3 hit night (2 more doubles) doesn't merit inclusion with the other 3 in the headline of this thread? His BA is now up to .326.

 

Because I forgot about him. It's not a conspiracy. I'm glad you like him, though.

[homer]

Just wondering why Sean Halton's 3 hit night (2 more doubles) doesn't merit inclusion with the other 3 in the headline of this thread? His BA is now up to .326.

I'd be more excited if he would take a walk or hit for more power.

[Mass Haas]

Rattler Radio Blog Post-Game Thoughts

[LouisEly]

Not good to have the last name Pierce and be in the Brewers minor league system in rookie ball right now. Both have an ERA over 15.00 (very small sample warning).

[patrickgpe]

peralta needs to get up to triple a at this point, so we can see what he has got. if there in an injury to the rotation (knock on wood that there isn't), the brewers need to know if peralta is a candidate better than estrada to take the spot.