(Mustangs media release)
GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado – The Billings Mustangs (13-20) lost their second straight game to the Grand Junction Rockies (16-17) 7-6 in front of 2,072 at Suplizio Field on Thursday.
The Mustangs would hold two separate leads in the game, including a 2-0 advantage after the top of the first. Dylan Harris reached on an error to begin the game, one of eight combined errors committed in the first four innings of the game. He scored on Mariel Bautista’s sacrifice two batters later and Pabel Manzanero singled in Reshard Munroe. Manzanero went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the game. It was his second three-hit game of the year.
The 2-0 lead would not last long as the Rockies responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the first. It would take just three hits, but two errors helped bring in the four runs of the frame. Coco Montres hit a solo home run and Javier Guevara singled in two. Of the seven runs scored by the Rockies Thursday, only three would be earned.
Billings reclaimed the lead with three more runs in the third. Bren Spillane hit his second home run in as many days; this time a two-run liner off Eris Filpo. He now leads the team with four home runs this season.
After a third lead change and a tie, the game would go into the bottom of the seventh inning even at 6-6. Hunter Stovall delivered his second homer of the series to get the Rockies what would prove to be the final lead of the night. Grand Junction put Alexander Martinez on the mound for his seventh save of the season and he would deliver a perfect ninth inning.
The Mustangs will try and avoid the sweep on Friday in Grand Junction. First pitch from Suplizio Field is set for 6:40 p.m.
