Bullpen and Blasts Lead Mustangs to 5-4 Win Over Boise

BILLINGS-The Billings Mustangs road a pair of sterling relief outings and a pair of home runs to a 5-4 win over the Boise Hawks in the series opener Wednesday night at Dehler Park.

Billings (20-15) moved to a season-best five games over .500 as the Mustang bullpen shut down the Boise offense to secure their seventh win in their last nine games. Boise (13-24) has dropped eight of their last nine.

In the first inning, both teams got going early. Against Billings starter Darrien Ragins, Boise put two on with two out for Jacob Cruce, who ripped a double to the wall in deep left-center to score a pair of runs.

The Mustangs, though, had answer immediately against Boise starter Gavin Gorrell. With two on and one down, Gabe Wurtz roped a double into left-center which brought home Crews Taylor. However, consecutive strikeouts with two men in scoring position ended the threat for the Mustangs, who trailed 2-1.

In the second, Boise got the run as the first three reached against Ragins, with Haloa Dudoit doubling in a run. However, with two in scoring position and no outs, Ragins buckled down and finished the inning with no further damage.

Billings then took the lead in the bottom of the second. After a walk and double put two on with one out, Taylor ripped a 1-1 fastball over the deepest part of right-center field for a three-run homer, putting the Mustangs up 4-3 on his seventh longball of the season.

The lead, however, was short lifted. After a leadoff strikeout, Ragins allowed a walk and two singles, tying the game. With two outs, Ragins was lifted for Kelvan Pilot, who struck out Raymond Gil with runners on the corners to end the threat.

In the bottom of the inning, Pilot would gain a lead to work with. Mason Dinesen, coming off his best series of the season, ambushed the first pitch of the inning from Gorrell and crushed it over the left-center field wall for his professional homer, putting the Mustangs in front 5-4.

At that point, the bullpens took over. Pilot threw 3.1 scoreless innings, striking out four and inducing a pair of 5-4-3 double plays. Hunter DePrimo entered the game in the seventh and did the rest. The right-hander did the rest, retiring nine of the last ten hitters and allowing just a two-out walk in the eighth.

All told, Pilot and DePrimo held Boise to no runs on just three hits over 6.1 scoreless innings to nail down a 5-4 series-opening win.

The Mustangs will play game two against the Boise Hawks on Thursday night. The Mustangs will send RHP Yasnier Laureano (3-2, 3.45) while Boise counters with RHP Gavin Gorrell (1-2, 4.64). Pregame on Wednesday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 6:15 ahead of a 6:35 p.m. first pitch.