Pitching duel ends in bizarre fashion; Missoula wins 2-1
For nine innings Monday evening, the Missoula Osprey and Helena Brewers played scoreless baseball. However, in the top of the 10th, Osprey left-fielder Ty Linton broke the scoring drought with a 2-run home run. Then, with two outs in the bottom of 10th, Raul Mondesi Jr. took a 1-1 pitch over the left-field wall for what appeared to be a game-tying 2-run home run. As the home team celebrated with Mondesi, Missoula catcher Michael Perez appealed that Mondesi had missed home plate and the ruling was upheld. Officially, the game ended on Mondesi's RBI triple with the visiting Osprey (4-4) emerging the victor, 2-1.
Lost in the excitement at the end of the game were two marvelous pitching performances from both teams. Helena starter Eric Semmelhack logged seven shutout innings allowing only two base runners and striking out five. Missoula lefty Andrew Barbosa lasted six shutout innings allowing only a single hit and a walk while striking out five. Each bullpen was equally impressive, as Manuel Ruiz (0-1) went two and a third innings allowing only one hit and struck out five; the only hit he allowed being Linton's homer in the 10th. Dexter Price (1-0) came in for the ninth and tenth innings and earned the win after the appealed home run-turned-triple provided the final out of the contest.
For the Brewers (2-6), left-fielder Yonki Hernandez turned in a 2-for-4 night at the plate and swiped two bases to extend his league-leading total to six. Hernandez scored the only run of the night on Mondesi's triple, and also bumped up his season average to a team-high .385.
Helena returns to action Tuesday night to wrap up a brief two-game home series against the Missoula Osprey. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm with gates opening at 6:00 pm. It is Government Tuesdays presented by Westaff, which provides government workers $3 admission to the game with valid work identification. To purchase tickets, you can contact the Brewers office at 406-495-0500 or visit helenabrewers.net.