Link Report for Thurs. 6/19 - Not a pretty night

[Eye Black]

Billings trounces Helena 16-7 in opener

By Dustin Daniel / Helena Brewers

 

The Billings Mustangs (3-1) put on an offensive clinic in a 16-7 win over the Helena Brewers (1-3) on Thursday, posting 20 hits on five Helena pitchers.

 

Luis Ortega (0-1) struggled in his first outing in the Brewers' organization, giving up seven runs on seven hits in just two and two thirds innings of work. Ortega was traded from the Red Sox late in 2013 for Burke Badenhop.

 

The Mustangs struck first, posting three runs in the first inning on Ortega on the power of four hits. With two outs, Daniel Paula singled to right and would be brought in two batters later on a two-RBI double off the bat of Brian O'Grady. Paula would finish the game 4-for-6 with two homeruns, four runs scored and four RBI.

 

The Brewers would put up a fight, slapping in three runs of their own in the fifth when Elvis Rubio went yard for a three-run blast off of Luke Moran (1-0). Moran would leave after the fifth, giving up five runs on six hits, walking three and striking out five.

 

Billings put the game to bed with six runs in the final two frames. Paula's second homerun would score Cory Thompson and bring the tally to 13-7 in favor of the visitors. He would later finish the game's scoring with an RBI single in the ninth.

 

Brennan Bernadino came in to shut the ballgame down in the ninth, striking out two batters and forcing Dustin DeMuth into a fielder's choice to end the game.

 

The Brewers and Mustangs will meet for the finale of their two-game series Friday at Kindrick Legion Field. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

 

 

Helena Box Score

Not a pretty game on the pitching side of things as Billings scored in all but the two innings pitched by Cy Sneed. Offensively, three Helena players had two hits a piece: Brandon Diaz (HR and 2B), Greg McCall, Dustin Demuth (2 - 2B). Tucker Neuhaus went 0-5, with 4 strikeouts.

 

Helena Play-By-Play

[Mass Haas]

The Sounds look to avoid their second consecutive series sweep in the 9:05 p.m. CT finale between the clubs on Friday evening. Right-hander Ariel Pena (4-5, 4.27) will man the bump for Nashville and face Las Vegas right-hander Giancarlo Alvarado (2-3, 6.80).

 

Wow, the now-36-year-old Alvarado, never in the big leagues, was briefly a Brewers farmhand way back in 2002.

[Eye Black]

Mustangs Hammer Helena

By Amber Kuehn / Independent Record

 

Mustangs right fielder Aristides Aquino finished a triple shy of the cycle and Billings went on a hit parade Thursday night at Kindrick Legion Field, winning by a score more fitting of a football game.

 

The Mustangs smashed four home runs in the Pioneer League contest, beating the Helena Brewers 16-7. With the win, Billings improved to 3-1 on the young season, a record good for first place in the North Division.

 

It was the first time this season the Mustangs went deep multiple times in a game. Billings designated hitter Daniel Paula came in to the game batting 0 for 7. But he’d break out of the slump in a hurry, finishing with four hits — including a pair of long balls — and four RBIs for the visitors, who never trailed in the contest.

 

The Mustangs also had nearly as many hits Thursday (20) as they did in the previous three games combined (22).

 

“Any time you put up numbers like that it’s a good thing,” said Billings manager Dick Schofield. “Those first couple of games we struggled a bit, but we’ve got quite a few guys playing pro ball for the first time.”

 

Mustangs starting pitcher Luke Moran went five innings for the victory, despite giving up five earned runs on six hits. He fanned five.

 

“Moran did all right for five; he left a couple up there, but he did enough to get himself a victory,” Schofield said.

 

“It was one of those days where it didn’t matter who you sent out there, somebody was going to come up with a hit.”

 

Billings had six runs before the game was even two innings old, and took a 10-2 lead after four-and-a-half frames. But the Brewers would battle back with four unanswered runs, most of them courtesy of Elvis Rubio’s three-run bomb in the home half of the fifth.

 

The two teams combined for six home runs, with Brandon Diaz also getting a homer for Helena. Billings had back-to-back balls leave the park in the eighth, with Aquino following up Paula’s two-run homer with a solo shot of his own. The deep shot sailed over the scoreboard in left-center field, arguably the hardest hit ball of the evening.

 

Gregory Munoz and Luis Aviles extended their hitting streaks for Helena to four games. Munoz, the second baseman, went 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored, while the shortstop Aviles also went 1 for 4.

 

Brewers starter Luis Ortega took the loss after giving up seven earned runs in just 2 2/3 innings. The Mustangs did the bulk of their late-game damage against Helena reliever Junior Rincon, who was peppered for four runs — including the back-to-back bombs — in just a third of an inning.

 

The Mustangs’ 2-4 batters put on a clinic, going 11 for 18 in the contest, with Paula and Aquino combining for seven RBIs.

 

Schofield said seeing the offense come alive was a promising way to start a road trip after opening the season 2-1 in a homestand against Great Falls. Billings had just a .237 batting average as a team through the first three games, the second lowest in the league, but surely got a confidence boost with Thursday’s performance.

 

The Mustangs now have a three-game winning streak and will look to keep it rolling tonight in the series finale in Helena (1-3).

 

The Brewers will send right-hander Josh Uhen to the mound. Wyatt Strahan will get the start for Billings, before giving way to Seth Varner. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

 

NOTES: Tonight is Bark at the Park night. Fans are encouraged to bring their dogs to the game. ... The Milwaukee Brewers’ top college prospect saw his first action as a pro on Thursday. Right-hander Cy Sneed, the third-round draft pick out of Dallas Baptist, came on in relief and pitched two scoreless innings, allowing just three hits. ... The announced attendance was 1,128, the largest crowd of the season.

 

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Thom Bridge/ Independent Record- Tucker Neuhaus throws to first from third base against the Billings Mustangs Thursday.

[Mass Haas]

Brevard County --

 

AUDIO: Brewers' Vice President and Assistant General Manager Gord Ash chats with Justin Rocke on the Manatees Pregame Show.

 

AUDIO, Game Highlights: Daytona defeats Brevard County in the opening game of the second half, 7-4.

[Mass Haas]

Photo by Thom Bridge / Helena Independent Record -

 

Drew Ghelfi throws from the mound against the Billings Mustangs Thursday night.

 

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[Mass Haas]

The Maryvale Brewers kick off their season Friday night at the Reds' complex in Goodyear.

[Mass Haas]

Unfortunately, the Manatees were on the wrong end of this MiLB.com feature article focusing on the Daytona Cubs' efforts last night.

[Mass Haas]

Tucker Neuhaus went 0-5, with 4 strikeouts.

 

Yikes, 0-for-13 thus far with nine K's (one walk).

 

Twitter: Tucker's maintaining a good attitude.

[Mass Haas]

Latest from Tim Dillard's blog focuses on rain delays.

[brewmann04]

Tucker Neuhaus not the start everyone was looking for hopefully he still playing a solid 3rd base. Curious if Nashville struggles in the second half would it have any effect of getting an agreement for next year. I guess it time for some of pitching Prospects at 3A to work out some kinks. Jungman and Cravy need to show they can take it to the next level.

[miggs721]

Is Haniger injured, hasn't played in last 3 or 4 games???

[WV Brew]

I wonder if Tucker Neuhaus is feeling some pressure due to having DeMuth on the same team? He has talent hopefully he can relax and enjoy his time with Helena.