(Editor's note: Mustangs media release)
BILLINGS - The Billings Mustangs (16-6, 31-29) put together their largest comeback win of the season on Tuesday in a 10-6 victory over the Great Falls Voyagers (8-11, 23-33) in front of 2,449 at Dehler Park.
Five runs on four hits put the Voyagers up big early, scoring five runs in the top of the second. Sam Abbott doubled in a run to get the scoring opened and Josh Rivera's three-run home run capped the inning to make it a 5-0 Great Falls advantage.
The five-run lead was not to last long, however, as the Mustangs tied things up in the fourth on just one hit. After a leadoff error reach for TJ Hopkins, a hit batter and two walks, Leonardo Seminati's sacrifice fly to left got Billings on the board for their first run. With the bases loaded later in the inning, Reniel Ozuna hit a game-tying grand slam to left. It was the second grand slam of the year hit by a Mustang and Ozuna's fifth home run of the season.
Each side was able to plate a run in the fifth to move the tie to 6-6. James Free and Eric Yang had back-to-back two-out singles for the Mustangs in the fifth to put two on. A wild pitch brought Free in to tie the game back up two batters later.
Ryan Dunne set a new career-high with six strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Dunne struck out the first five batters he saw, representing the second straight night a Billings pitcher set a personal mark in strikeouts after Noah Davis' eight on Monday. Dunne did not allow a hit or run, walking three and striking out six. The Mustangs' pitching staff has struck out 31 batters over the last two games.
TJ Hopkins gave the Mustangs their first lead of the night in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to left, putting Billings up 7-6. It was Hopkins' second home run in the last four days.
Eight batters to the plate in the eighth provided Billings with plenty of insurance as Victor Ruiz, Ozuna and Quin Cotton all singled in a run to make it a four-run Mustangs lead. Ozuna finished Tuesday 2-for-4 with five RBI, becoming the third Billings player this year to hit the five-RBI mark in a single game.
The Mustangs and Voyagers will play in the second and final game of their series Wednesday, Aug. 21. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. MDT at Dehler Park.