Editor’s Note: Helena Brewers Press Release
Helena – In a modified double header on Tuesday night at Kindrick Legion Field, the Brewers won the suspended nine inning game thanks to a pair of two run home runs. Despite five no hit innings from Joey Matulovich, the Brewers were held to just one hit in a 6-0 shutout from Owlz pitchers Cristopher Molina and Jake Lee.
Game 1
In a game that was suspended after two and a half innings last night, neither team scored until the fifth inning. Bryan Connell with a runner on took an outside fastball from Rion Murrah and deposited it over the right field wall for his first Pioneer League homer, giving Helena a 2-0 lead.
Joel Pinto got the start in the game and went three scoreless innings before the rain came. Victor Castaneda took the mound when the game resumed, and fired three scoreless innings to start his outing. David Clawson gave Orem a chance to score the first run of the game after a leadoff double in the fifth, but thanks to two great defensive plays from shortstop Brice Turang, Castaneda got the next three to end the inning. The Owlz got a run back on a solo home run from Connor Fitzsimmons in the seventh, but after two more reached with two outs, Castaneda got a ground out from Michael Stefanic to keep it a one run lead.
In the eight, Rayneldy Rosario reached on a leadoff single, but was caught stealing. Castaneda completed the eighth inning, giving him a five inning one run performance with a season high six strikeouts. David Fry added on insurance runs with a two out two run home run in the eighth inning, while Michael Mediavilla got the Owlz in order in the ninth to earn his third save.
Game 2
Scheduled for just seven innings, the Brewers and Owlz put together an old fashioned pitchers duel, as Helena starter Joey Matulovich and Orem starter Cristopher Molina allowed just one hit combined over the first five innings. Matulovich had a no hitter through five innings, striking out ten in the first five frames. Molina meanwhile allowed just a two out single to Jesus Lujano in the second and then retired ten straight Brewers to finish his outing.
Rayneldy Rosario broke up the no hit bid with a single to left in the sixth. Livan Soto then placed a perfect bunt down the third base line that teetered the chalk and ended up fair once it crossed the line of the bag. That brought up Kevin Maitan, who singled into left, scoring Rosario, but Soto was thrown out at third. Matulovich finished his career long six inning performance with one run allowed on just those three hits, striking out a career best ten.
Jake Lee came on in the sixth and punched out the Brewers in order. In the seventh, Orem’s offense exploded for five runs to put the game out of reach, as Lee issued just a one out walk in the seventh to lock down the save. The Brewers were shut out for just the third time and were held to a season low one hit.
The Brewers are back in action tomorrow for the third game of the four game series, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM. It is a Wine Wednesday along with a Weenie Wednesday. For more information and tickets, visit the promotions page on helenabrewers.net.
