Waring, Mustangs overpower Brewers
Waring homered twice for the third time in four games and collected a career-high six RBIs on Wednesday, powering the Billings Mustangs to a 15-7 victory over the Helena Brewers.
Waring smacked a two-run shot in the first inning and a grand slam, his Pioneer League-leading 18th homer of the season and seventh in four nights.
"I've been feeling good. Every time I come back to the dugout, the guys all have smiles on their faces," he said.
It would be hard not to smile at what Waring has been doing lately. He's hitting .465 (20-for-43) with 10 homers, 18 RBIs and 17 runs scored in his last 11 games. Seven of those roundtrippers have come in his last 20 at-bats. Before his current tear, however, he was mired in a 4-for-37 slump that snapped nine games.
"I was slumping pretty badly a few weeks ago," the 21-year-old third baseman admitted. "I've been able to keep my hands back and see the ball longer. There's been some good games and some bad ones. It's great to end the season on a high note."
Selected by Cincinnati in the seventh round of the 2007 draft, Waring has raised his batting average to .304. He is second in the league with 55 RBIs, four behind Idaho Falls' Clint Robinson.
Brandon Menchaca went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and four runs scored, Jason Bour collected three hits and two RBIs and Kyle Maunus and Francis Meade drove in two runs apiece for the Mustangs (15-14).
Reliever Harris Honeycutt (2-2) allowed a hit and a walk while fanning two over 3 2/3 scoreless frames for the win. Billings starter Enerio Del Rosario surrendered seven runs -- six earned -- on 10 hits, striking out one and walking one in 4 1/3 innings.
Mike Goetz smacked a three-run homer, his third, Steffan Wilson hit a two-run shot, his ninth, and Anthony Wycklendt added a solo blast, his fifth, for the Brewers (14-15).
Helena starter Evan Anundsen (6-5) gave up 10 runs -- four earned -- on eight hits and two walks with six strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings. He fell to 0-3 against Billings. --Steve Conley/MLB.com