(Billings Mustangs release)
BILLINGS – The Billings Mustangs (12-18) won their third game in the last four nights, 3-2 over the Orem Owlz (9-21) in front of 2,398 at Dehler Park on Sunday.
Pitching would dominate early as both starting pitchers tossed shutout baseball through the fourth. James Marinan, making his second start with the Mustangs, would spin four scoreless frames in one of his best outings of his young career. The right-hander, recently acquired in a trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, struck out a career-high six and allowed just one hit.
The Mustangs got all their scoring done in the fifth inning against a fatigued Matt Leon (1-2). Leon retired the first eight batters he saw and had allowed just two hits in four shutout innings to start before having a rocky fifth. Drew Mount reached to lead off the inning on a fielding error. Three hits were then rattled off with two outs to plate three. Zeek White singled in Mount and Dylan Harris drove in two on his second double of the day. Harris led the offense with a 2-for-4 performance which included two doubles and two runs batted in.
The Owlz scratched their way back over the last four innings of the game, but their comeback would fall just short. Francisco Del Valle scored after an error in the sixth and grounded in the second run in the eighth. The Owlz had the tying run in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings, but couldn’t find a way to bring it in. Dauri Moreta earned his team-best third save in a four-strikeout ninth.
The Mustangs and Owlz will face off in a decisive game three of their series Monday at Dehler Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
