Link Report for Sat. 9/7 - Helena looks to gain bit of momentum; playoffs start Monday

[Mass Haas]

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

[Mass Haas]

Helena: RHP Brandon Moore at home vs. Great Falls (White Sox), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime

 

Free Live Audio Link

 

Voice of the Helena Brewers Steve Wendt is back on board, and this year he's added Twitter to the mix @steve_wendt. We've been treated to Steve's work for many years now (ten!); he is among the very best at the art of the pre-game interview, especially considering how at ease he makes all these first-time professional ballplayers.

 

***

 

Follow Saturday's action as it happens with box score / game log links:

 

Helena Box Score / Game Log

 

***

 

STANDINGS:

 

Rookie Advanced - Pioneer League North Division

 

NOTE: To view first half or overall standings for Helena, you'll notice an option at the link for that. Otherwise it's second-half standings as the default view for those this league.

 

***

 

Weather.com:

 

Helena, MT

[Mass Haas]

New this season: Helena has media notes; it's a unique link each day, but look for it just prior to game time each day within the "Stats and Scores" banner here.

[battlekow]

Final: Great Falls 4, @Helena 3

 

Helena box score

The Brewers better hope this isn't a preview of the playoffs, because they've dropped the last three games to the Voyagers. Not much going on offensively until the 9th inning, when they pushed across two runs to make it close. Two of their six hits came courtesy of Adam Giacalone. Omar Garcia was back in the lineup for the first time since the 2nd, so that's good to see.

 

Brandon Moore allowed three runs (two earned) in 3.2 innings. Trevor Seidenberger followed with 4.1 innings of one-run ball with a nice 5/1 K/BB to lower his ERA to 6.75, which at least doesn't cause a double-take.

 

Helena play-by-play

They had the tying run on 2nd with no outs in the 9th but couldn't plate him:

 

Helena Bottom of the 9th

• Michael Ratterree reaches on a throwing error by third baseman Zach Voight.
  
• Adam Giacalone singles on a line drive to center fielder Adam Engel. Michael Ratterree to 2nd.
  
• Dustin Houle singles on a ground ball to left fielder Justin Jirschele. Michael Ratterree scores. Adam Giacalone scores. Dustin Houle to 2nd. Fielding error by left fielder Justin Jirschele.
  
• Jose Pena grounds out, third baseman Zach Voight to first baseman Danny Hayes.
  
• Offensive Substitution: Pinch-runner Ruben Ozuna replaces Dustin Houle.
  
• Clint Coulter lines out to third baseman Zach Voight.
  
• Jalen Harris strikes out swinging.

[Mass Haas]

Ninth Inning Rally Comes Up Short

Great Falls holds on for 4-3 win

By Zac Vierra / Helena Brewers

 

Through eight innings on Saturday, the Brewer offense was dormant as it has been most of the series with Great Falls.

 

But in the bottom of the ninth, Helena received a spark, thanks in part to a pair of Voyager errors.

 

Trailing 4-1 going into their last at bat, the Brewers rallied for a pair of runs and had the tying run at second base, but Sean Hagan closed the game out as the Voyagers held on for a 4-3 win, their third straight victory over Helena.

 

The ninth inning rally started when Michael Ratterree reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, Zach Voight. After Adam Giacalone singled, Dustin Houle pulled a base hit into left as Ratterree scored.

 

When the ball got under the glove of Justin Jirschele in left, Giacalone came home as well. Houle would advance to second on the error.

 

After Ruben Ozuna pinch ran for Houle, Hagan got Jose Pena to ground out to third, retired Clint Coulter on a lineout to third, and struck out Jalen Harris on a 3-2 pitch to end the ballgame.

 

For the third straight game against the Voyagers, Helena was limited to less than four runs. And although the Brewers are 5-23 when scoring fewer than four runs, Helena skipper Tony Diggs does not seem concerned with the recent lack of offense, even with the playoffs starting on Monday.

 

"You just have to be ready to have a good, solid approach every at bat and be ready to hit that's all. Nothing has changed since day one. You are going to have days when you have a ton of runs and days when you have to scratch them out and this was one of those games where you have to scratch them out so we're good," he said.

 

Brandon Moore (photo below by Seth Eikomstead) was given the loss although he didn't pitch badly. He allowed a run in the second off a sac fly by Corey Thompson and two runs in the fourth, including his lone mistake, a solo homer off the bat of Zac Fisher.

 

"It was a good solid outing for Moore. We wanted to stretch him out and get him to about four or five [innings]. Their hitter jumped on one good pitch and basically that was about it, that was the only ball he gave up that was hard," said Diggs.

 

Trevor Seidenberger would come into the game with two outs in the fourth and he would keep the Brewers in the game through 4.1 innings.

 

The only run he allowed, an RBI single by Tyler Shryock in the seventh, would be the difference in the game.

 

Although the Brewers have lost three straight to their playoff foe, these games essentially mean nothing and Diggs is not worried.

 

"Every game you want to win. You want to be on top of everything but just to see the way they played especially tonight, we're good," said Diggs.

 

"The hitters did a good job of keeping us in this ballgame and in the ninth they made a run for it," he said. "I can handle tonight."

 

The Brewers and Voyagers will finish the regular season on Sunday afternoon. Sunday's first pitch is scheduled for 1:05 PM (2:05 Central).

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/6/6/0/59938660/cuts/31_Brandon_Moore_P_2_d7u1irsg_muh235ij.jpg