Editor’s Note: Helena Brewers Press Release
Grand Junction, CO – For the second straight night, a big inning turned the tide against the Brewers, as Helena’s three run lead turned into a two run deficit after Grand Junction scored five in the fourth. The Rockies blitzed Helena with a four run fifth to take a six run lead they wouldn’t relinquish, downing the Brewers 11-5. Helena has now lost a season high four in a row.
The Brewers got the party started thanks to a pair of extended at bats in the first. With one out, Brice Turang drew a walk in an eight pitch plate appearance, and LG Castillo immediately followed with a double to right in an eight pitch at bat, moving Turang to third. David Fry stepped in next, and a wild pitch scored Turang and moved Castillo to third. Fry then grounded out to short, but it scored Castillo to extend the lead to 2-0.
Grand Junction responded immediately in the first, as a leadoff triple from Will Golsan scored immediately on a Hunter Stovall sacrifice fly. The Rockies tied the game in the second, as a one out walk to Joey Bartosic scored on a two base error.
Helena took the lead back in the third as a leadoff double from Turang scored on a single from Fry. The Brewers extended the lead in the fourth as two runs came across to score, thanks to an error from Christopher Navarro and an RBI single from Je’Von Ward.
The three run lead was the biggest the Brewers had in the game, but it evaporated immediately. Grand Junction loaded the bases with nobody out in the fourth on three straight singles, and cut the Brewers lead to two on a Will Golsan bases loaded walk. That ended the night for Helena starter Blake Lillis, but Peter Strzelecki couldn’t pick him up. Hunter Stovall then singled home a run to cut the lead to one, and with the bases still loaded a wild pitch tied the game. The game was still tied at five with the bases loaded and two outs, but Daniel Montano came up clutch with a two RBI double, giving Grand Junction the 7-5 lead.
Grand Junction kept the pedal to the floor in the fifth, scoring four runs to extend their lead to six. Helena’s offense could never get anything else going, as the Rockies bullpen shut out the Brewers over the final 5.2 innings.
The Brewers hope to snap their slide tomorrow as Max Lazar takes the hill. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM, with the pregame show airing on helenabrewers.net at 6:25.
