BILLINGS, Montana – The Billings Mustangs (3-7) lost their third straight game on Tuesday, falling 6-1 to the Great Falls Voyagers (5-6) in front of 2,391 at Dehler Park.
Great Falls scored a first-inning run for the second straight game, leading off the contest with consecutive hits. Ian Dawkins doubled off Ricky Salinas and was brought in during the next at-bat by Lenyn Sosa’s RBI single. Sosa went 2-for-5 with an RBI to tack on to his already fourth-best batting average in the Pioneer League. Salinas went three innings in the start for the Mustangs. The right-hander out of Rice University allowed just one run on seven hits and struck out four.
The Mustangs managed to tie the game in the bottom of the third inning on a pair of hits. Carlos Rivero bunted to reach on a one-out single and scored later in the inning on Mariel Bautista’s RBI double to center. It would be the only run of the game for the Mustangs who would have just two more hits over the last six innings of the night.
Great Falls took back the lead for good with two runs in both the fifth and seventh courtesy of two Alex Destino triples. The right-fielder finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored to go along with his triples.
The Voyagers bullpen would be nearly spotless as three relievers combined to give up two hits in four innings and strike out five to seal the win.
Great Falls had 16 hits as a team in the game, the most for a Billings opponent this season.
The Mustangs and Voyagers will face off in the finale of their three-game series Wednesday at Dehler Park. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.
