Garcia's Five Hits Not Enough as Mustangs Fall 14-8 in Great Falls

GREAT FALLS-The Billings Mustangs got five hits from Jalen Garcia and a homer from former Voyager Jackson Raper, but a six-run eighth doomed the Mustangs as they took a 14-8 loss on Friday night at Centene Stadium against the Great Falls Voyagers.

Billings (9-10) surrendered season highs in runs and hits while Great Falls (15-7) kept pace one game behind division-leading Idaho Falls.

The Mustangs got off to a fast start in the first inning. Great Falls starter Quincy Jones retired the first two hitters he faced, but Jalen Garcia singled, Gabe Wurtz doubled him in, and Jackson Raper greeted his former team with a two-run homer to left-center, his fourth of the season, which put the Mustangs up 3-0.

Billings wasn't done as they continued to pepper Jones in the second. An error and single put two on with no out in the inning. With two outs and runners at second and third, Garcia pulled a ground ball through the left side, scoring both runners and putting the Mustangs up 5-0.

However, after Mustang starter Kelvan Pilot wiggled out of a first-inning jam with no damage, he was not nearly as lucky in the second. Two walks and a single loaded the bases with one out. Jake Malec singled in two runs, a wild pitch brought in a third run. Andy Atwood followed with a double that scored another run. Three batters later, he came home on a sacrifice fly and all the sudden, the score was 5-5.

After both teams went down scoreless in the third, Billings pulled back ahead in the fourth. With runners at second and third and one out, Wurtz ripped a single to left center that plated Mason Dinesen and Garcia, putting Billings back up 7-5.

Pilot, though, could not hold off the Voyagers, who stormed right back. With two on and two out, Eddie McCabe roped a double down the right field line, which scored both runners and tied the game. Pilot was then lifted for Sean Kiley, who was greeted by a single from Tavis Brunson which scored McCabe to give Great Falls an 8-7 lead.

Kiley settled down the score remained there into the sixth. Garcia led off with his fourth hit of the game, moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch and scored on Raper's single to tie the game.

The bullpens then put the clamps down as Kiley twirled three scoreless innings, only for Montana Quigley to enter the game for Great Falls and also keep Billings off the board.

In the eighth, though, things went south, as the Voyagers stroked eight hits and plated six runs in the inning, breaking the tie. Quigley followed with a 1-2-3 ninth to secure a 14-8 win for Great Falls.

The Mustangs will play the middle game in Great Falls on Saturday night. RHP Yasnier Laureano (2-1, 2.20) gets the ball for the Mustangs, while RHP Alexander Castro (2-1, 9.00) counters for the Voyagers. Pregame tomorrow night will begin at 6:40 p.m. on ESPN 910/105.5 with Brennan Mense on the call ahead of a 7:00 first pitch at Centene Stadium.