Six Run Inning Propels Voyagers To Third Straight Win

BILLINGS, MT— After an eventful comeback win Thursday night, the Great Falls Voyagers (30-21, 3-1 2H) made sure to give themselves more breathing room early in Friday's contest, putting up six runs in the third as part of an 11-3 win over the Billings Mustangs (26-24, 1-3 2H). Six different players in the Great Falls lineup registered two-hit games to back a solid outing by starter Tyler Naumann, running the Voyagers' win streak to three games and helping them keep pace in the early second half standings.

Chris Monroe and Michael Deeb each recorded two RBI's on the night to support the all-around winning effort, but it was Cristopher De Guzman who broke open the big inning for the visitors, launching a three-run blast over the left field wall—the first professional home run for the switch-hitting shortstop. As a team, the Voyagers benefited heavily from their discipline at the plate, drawing nine walks compared to just five strikeouts on the night.

The Great Falls offense was a model of consistency throughout the game, putting at least one runner on in all nine frames. The scoring started early against Mustang starter Patrick Maybach, as the righty issued two first-inning walks in his professional debut, ultimately paying for them when Deeb poked a single the other way for the first run of the game. Billings came back to match the run in the bottom half of the opening frame, but the deadlock would not last for long. The Voyagers sent 12 men to the plate in the third, an inning that saw six runs, six hits, and the game-changing swing by De Guzman. An RBI double from right fielder Myles McKisic was the final straw for Billings manager Jim Riggleman, who made the call to the bullpen after just 2.2 innings. The Mustangs got a run back in their half of the third, but three more Voyager runs in the fifth put a comeback out of reach.

Tyler Naumann carried his success over from the latter part of first half into his second half debut, putting up a winning line of 6.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (1 ER), 8 K. The eight punchouts put Naumann at 30 Ks over his last four starts, as the lefty has really found a feel for his swing-and-miss stuff over the recent month. After surrendering the unearned run in the third, Naumann finished strong, retiring 10 of the last 11 hitters he faced to set up the bullpen for a quiet final three frames. Brett Lorah entered in the seventh and allowed the first two batters to reach base before inducing six consecutive ground ball outs to put the Voyagers an inning away from victory. Ethan Swanson then pinned one final zero on the board in the ninth to secure the road win.