(Mustangs media release)
BILLINGS – The Billings Mustangs (1-0, 16-23) won their third consecutive game on Thursday with a 4-1 win over the Missoula Osprey (0-1, 19-20) at Dehler Park.
Scoring would come at a premium throughout the entire game as both starting pitchers looked sharp in their outings. Jared Solomon (4-2) earned his team-best fourth win with five and one-third innings of shutout baseball while striking out seven. He leads the Pioneer League with 46 strikeouts this season.
The game went scoreless into the bottom of the third when the Mustangs delivered the entirety of their runs off Marcos Tineo (2-2). Drew Mount led off with an infield single before Carlos Rivero singled and Jonathan India was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. On the first pitch of his at-bat, Mariel Bautista hit a grand slam to left for his second homerun in as many games. India, making his Pioneer League debut, would go 1-for-2 with a single lined to left in the sixth.
Ryan Dunne set a new season-high with three strikeouts in one and two-thirds innings of perfect relief. He, Solomon and Andrew McDonald would combine to retire eight consecutive batters between the sixth and the eighth innings.
The Osprey got their only run of the night with two outs in the ninth. Zack Shannon doubled and was brought in immediately on William Gorman’s double behind him. The Osprey would out-hit the Mustangs 5-4, but left six men on base in the game.
The Mustangs have won three straight for the first time this season and look for more on Friday in the second game of their four-game series against the Osprey. First pitch at Dehler Park is set for 7:05 p.m.
