(Editor’s note: Mustangs media release)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Billings Mustangs (11-14) won their third straight game on Thursday, beating the Rocky Mountain Vibes (9-16) 6-1 in front of 3,547 at UCHealth Park.
Carlos Carreno provided a glistening outing in the start for Billings. Carreno (1-2) threw six innings, allowing one run on just three hits, walking one and striking out six. It was season-highs for Carreno in both innings and strikeouts, becoming the first Mustang to throw six complete in 2019.
Billings never trailed in the game, taking an early 1-0 lead after the RBI single of Quincy McAfee in the second. That began a run of three consecutive innings of scoring for the Mustangs. Nate Scantlin scored in the third after a leadoff single turned into three bases on an error in center field and scored immediately following on a wild pitch. Reyny Reyes popped a run on the board in the fourth with his first of two RBI singles on the night. Reyes finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and now has five hits in his last two games.
Frainger Aranguren and Ryan Dunne backed up Carreno’s start with three combined innings of shutout relief. It was the fourth time this season the Mustangs’ bullpen has not allowed a run, going 4-0 in those games.
A sloppy defensive sixth for Rocky Mountain allowed Billings to score three more runs on one hit, four walks, a hit batter and an error. Cash Case reached four times in the game, walking twice and being hit by two pitches. He would score two of Billings’ runs. Four of the six runs for the Mustangs were scored by batters to reach on a walk or a hit-by-pitch.
The Mustangs have now guaranteed at worst a series split of the four-game set. Billings and Rocky Mountain will play game three of the series Friday, July 12. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. MDT at UCHealth Park.
