Link Report for Thursday 7/7

[Mass Haas]

Final: Helena 5, Missoula 2

 

Brewers Snap Losing Streak at Seven

Mallen Home Run the Difference

By Craig Durham / Helena Brewers

 

HELENA, MT - After a frustrating seven game losing streak, the Helena Brewers got back in the win column on Thursday night with a 5-2 victory over the Missoula Osprey at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

Thomas Jankins turned in a dazzling performance on the mound, striking out four while allowing just two hits in four innings of work.

 

Nathan Rodriguez, meanwhile, staked the Brewers to a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the bottom of the 4th, his first home run of the season. That lead would increase to 2-0 in the bottom of the 5th when Franly Mallen led off with a double, advanced to third on a Joantgel Segovia single, and scored on a wild pitch.

 

The Osprey came back to tie it at two in the top of the 6th, scoring twice on just one hit.

 

Karsen Lindell (1-2) escaped a 7th inning jam, leaving the bases loaded by getting Jasrado Chisolm to fly out to deep left, and that set the stage for a big bottom of the 7th.

 

Mallen untied the game with his first home run of the season, a blast over the wall in left, and the Brewers were just getting started. They put together a string of four hits, with Lucas Erceg and Demi Orimoloye each delivering RBIs, taking a 5-2 lead into the 8th.

 

Quintin Torres-Costa made his 2016 Helena debut in style, working two scoreless, hitless innings of relief to secure the victory and earn his first save of the season.

 

The Brewers and Osprey will wrap up their brief two game series on Friday night at 7:30 PM (8:30 Central) with Gentry Fortuno on the bump for Helena opposite Chester Pimintel for Missoula.

 

***

 

Via the Helena Independent Record's Ryan Collingwood --

 

Home is much kinder to the Helena Brewers.

 

After dropping seven straight games, six on the road, Helena dispatched the Missoula Osprey 5-2 on Thursday in a Pioneer League tilt at Kindrick Legion Field.

 

The Brewers (9-11), who improved to 6-2 at home, saw second baseman Franly Mallen go 2 for 4 with a double and a go-ahead solo homer in a three-run seventh frame.

 

Demi Orimoloye was 2 for 4 with a RBI double and Lucas Erceg also went 2 for 4. Erceg, a second-round draft pick, registered his 10th multi-hit game in 16 outings

 

Brewers catcher Nathan Rodriguez hit his first professional home run in the fourth inning.

 

Defensively, the Brewers were just as efficient, allowing just five hits.

 

Starting pitcher Thomas Jankins was brilliant in four innings of work, giving up just two hits, no runs, no walks and struck out five. Karsen Lindell earned the win after allowing two runs and two hits in three innings.

 

Quintin Torres-Costa, recently sent down from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, earned the save, giving up no runs or hits in two innings and striking out two.

 

The Brewers and Osprey (9-11) meet again Friday at Kindrick Legion Field, with the team's first-ever postgame fireworks show scheduled.

 

***

 

Helena Box Score

 

Demi's heating up! 7-for-12 in the last three games; seven game hit streak for Franly Mallen...

 

Helena Game Log

[Mass Haas]

As also placed in full in our Helena / Maryvale feature thread for archiving purposes --

 

Two photos at the link

 

Former Aggie Gideon taking advantage of professional opportunity

Ryan Collingwood, Helena Independent Record

 

Ronnie Gideon occupies the right side of the Helena Brewers' infield, his 6-foot-3, 240-pound frame taking up a sizable chunk of it.

 

The first baseman's hands are big. His Texas accent is thick.

 

Since being drafted last month, the imposing Gideon has exhibited power with Milwaukee's rookie affiliate, tallying three home runs -- a solo shot in just his second professional at-bat -- and four doubles in 14 games.

[homer]

Gatewood has four walks in his last four games. Progress!

[BuckyBrewer61]

Very obviously a small sample size, but in 16 games (73 PA) of rookie ball to start his professional career, Lucas Erceg has posted a line of .394/.452/.530/.982. Here's hoping he keeps it up!

 

Although also noticed at 3B he has 6 errors with a fielding% of 81.8%...whoops.

[WV Brew]

It's been my impression that Gatewood has been a much better 2 strike hitter this year than in the past. Unfortunately, MiLB doesn't have that split available but his numbers when behind in the count are better:

 

2015: .102/.117/.203

2016: .175/.179/.280

 

So there is some evidence that he is improved in that area. Keep the improvement coming.