(Mustangs media release)
BILLINGS – The Billings Mustangs (10-2, 25-25) returned from the All-Star break with a 12-7 win over the Ogden Raptors (8-5, 34-17) in front of 2,652 at Dehler Park in the first meeting of the season of the two teams.
Billings struck for four runs in the second to open the scoring off Kevin Malisheski. Dylan Harris was walked to start the inning which began a run of four consecutive reaches. All four batters would end up scoring. Juan Martinez had a two-RBI double in the inning to highlight the scoring. The Raptors would also commit their first of three errors on the night.
That lead was expanded to 7-0 with another three runs in the fourth. Drew Mount cranked his first of two RBI doubles in the game to go along with RBI singles from Cash Case and Mariel Bautista. Mount finished 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. He is now on an 11-game hitting streak, the longest streak by a Mustang this season.
Ricardo Smith threw shutout, one-hit baseball through his first four innings in the start before finding a little trouble in the fifth. The Raptors scored three runs in the inning to knock Smith out of the game two outs shy of qualifying for a win.
Ogden proceeded to score seven straight runs over the next three innings to overcome the 7-0 deficit. Matt Cogen and James Outman each came up with two hits and two runs scored in that time.
In a 7-7 tie, the Mustangs plated four in the seventh to take back a lead they would not surrender. Bren Spillane tripled in a run in the inning and Carlos Rivero would single in two.
Urwin Juaquin tripled in the eigth and scored on Mount’s second RBI double of the game to make it a five-run lead and finish off the win.
Andrew McDonald (2-2) retired all eight batters he saw to finish the game and earn the victory. It was the longest outing of Andrew’s professional career at two and two-thirds innings.
The Mustangs have now won 12 of their last 14 games and have a four-game lead in the Pioneer League North Division through the first 12 games of the second half. They will face off against the Ogden Raptors in the second game of their four-game series Friday at Dehler Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
