• Audio: Retherford gets things started
• Audio: Gallagher also goes deep • Box score • Complete playoff coverage • Try on a White Sox cap C.J. Retherford and Jim Gallagher hit first-inning homers Sunday as the Great Falls White Sox defeated the Helena Brewers, 5-1, to tie the best-of-3 Pioneer League North Division Finals. After Retherford led off the game with his first postseason roundtripper, Salvador Sanchez walked and Gallagher launched a two-run blast to give the White Sox a 3-0 lead. Retherford, who led Great Falls with 13 homers during the regular season, is batting .435 with six home runs, 14 RBIs and 13 runs scored during a nine-game hitting streak. Gallagher went 3-for-5, Christian Marrero stroked a pair of doubles and Greg Paiml chipped in a sacrifice fly in the eighth for the White Sox. Great Falls starter Juan Moreno (1-0) gave up a run on five hits and a walk while striking out four in six innings. The 20-year-old right-hander went 6-4 with a 2.39 ERA during the season and was 3-0 with a 0.97 ERA in his final six starts. Leroy Hunt fanned two over three scoreless frames to notch the save. Jon Lucroy went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for the Brewers. Helena starter R.J. Seidel (0-1) allowed three runs on three hits and four walks with a strikeout in one inning. The Brewers host the decisive third game on Monday at 9:05 p.m. ET. Shane Figueroa is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs. |
