(Editor’s note: Helena Brewers release)
HELENA — Looking for his first professional win, Aaron Ashby (W, 1-2) put on a show on Saturday evening at Kindrick Legion Field. The Brewers 2018 4th round selection threw seven innings of shutout baseball, allowing just one over the minimum to reach while only surrendering two hits. Helena’s offense took advantage of mistakes from Ogden early, cruising to an 8-0 win over the Raptors. For Helena, it was their second shutout in 2018.
Pablo Abreu started the first for Helena with a double down the left field line on the first pitch he saw from Raptor starter Joel Inoa, and Yeison Coca followed with an RBI single on the first pitch he saw. Chad McClanahan then singled, and with two on and nobody out, Ogden’s defense fell apart.
LG Castillo then grounded a ball back to Inoa, who sought to start a double play, but his throw to second was low and everyone was safe. Eddie Silva then hit a potential double play ball to first that Miguel Vargas threw to second to force out Castillo, but nobody covered first, allowing Silva to reach and for Coca to score. Then Je’Von Ward hit a potential double play ball to short, but Ronny Brito got turned around and had to dive to second to force out Silva. Ward reached first easily, and that brought McClanahan home to make it 3-0 Helena.
After retiring the side in the order in the first, Ashby issued a one out walk in the second, but erased it immediately with a double play. He got three straight ground ball outs in the third, and in the fourth a leadoff single from Chris Roller turned into an inning ending double play. A hit and run was called with one out and Miguel Vargas at the plate, and Vargas flew out to Castillo in right. Roller was all the way at second and didn’t realize Vargas flew out, and was easily doubled off first to end the inning.
Helena put the game on ice in the fourth with a three run frame, as after a Je’Von Ward single, Jefrey Souffrant committed an error on a Bryan Torres grounder, moving Ward to third. Left fielder Daniel Robinson airmailed the throw to third, and there was nobody covering the plate, allowing Ward to score and moving Torres to third. After a walk to Mike Alescio, Luis Avila put a bunt down that went for a single, scoring Torres from third. Inoa departed after a walk to Abreu, and with Justin Bruihl in, a dropped third strike with the bases loaded and Coca up brough Alescio home to make it 6-0 Helena.
After the double play in the fourth, Ashby allowed just one more hit the rest of the game, a two out double to Souffront in the fifth. He retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh, and exited the game after just 66 pitches.
Scott Sunitsch finished off the shutout with two hitless frames in the eighth and ninth. The Brewers held the Raptors to just two hits, the lowest by an opponent against Helena in 2018.
The Brewers look for their second straight win tomorrow at 1:05 PM against the Raptors. Max Lazar takes the ball for Helena, opposed by Jose Chacin. It is a Bark In The Park Sunday presented by Sky High Kennel, with all dogs allowed in the park. Get your tickets now by visiting the ticketing page of helenabrewers.net.
