Brewers nearly throw another no-hitter

It took the Helena Brewers 27 years to throw their first no-hitter. It took two days for them to nearly throw their second.

The Brewers came within four outs of another gem on Sunday before settling for a one-hitter and a 5-1 victory over the Billings Mustangs.

On Friday night, Simon Beresford, Richard Breshears, David Welch and Wilfrido Laureano combined on a no-hitter in Helena's 11-0 home rout of the Mustangs. With the scene shifting to Billings, Will Inman held the Mustangs without a hit for seven innings.

"Really, the only time I thought about (the no-hitter) was when (pitching coach Mark Littell) told me I was done," said Inman, an 18-year-old right-hander who was selected in the third round of the 2005 draft.

Inman was working on an 80-pitch count and exited after throwing 82. He said he also developed a blister on a finger on his pitching hand.

"I was pretty sure I wasn't going to pitch the whole game," Inman added. "(A no-hitter) would have been great, yes, but the 'W' is the main thing."

Ryan Marion replaced Inman to start the bottom of the eighth and got two quick outs before issuing consecutive four-pitch walks to Christopher Denove and Kenny Lewis. Brandon Roberts worked the count to 2-2 before singling in front of center fielder Darren Ford.

Joshua Louis relieved Marion and retired all four batters he faced to finish off the Brewers' eighth straight win to start the second half of the Pioneer League season. Helena, which won the first-half North Division title, has held Billings to six hits in the last three games.

Inman gives all the credit to Littell, who spent nine seasons in the Major Leagues with the Royals and Cardinals.

"He tells us what we're doing wrong and what we're doing right," Inman said. "Everybody he sends out there seems to do the job really well."