Changes Around Billings II
Bottom of 7th Brewers v Mustangs 3 July 09
It’s more than a little surprising to find the Mustangs having won only two games this far into the season. We didn’t get back early enough on 1 July to make it to the game. Listening to the last few innings on KBUL persuaded us that it was just as well. They lost 10-0. Apparently the defense is averaging about 4 errors per game, adding perhaps a few other disappointing plays that don’t get recorded as errors but neither are they good plays. I’m anxious to see this guy Corcino as he sounded pretty good on the radio.
I did get a chance to see the 2nd game of the three with Helena on 2 July. There were a few good things and many bad things. Hitting was not one of the good things except for catcher Humberto Sosa. Infield errors, one critical walk and wild pitches didn’t help matters, expecially in the top of the 9th when the aggressive-running Brewers took advantage of these to score a couple of runs without a hit.
I surprised myself and stayed for the whole game on Friday night, 3 July, the third in as many days with the Brewers. Our Mustangs started looking better with the bat in the middle innings after spotting the Brewers 2 runs in the 2nd and 2 more in the 3rd. The last had some odd things happen as a pop fly to the 2nd baseman doesn’t usually result in a run. I think the runner just surprised Pimental. All of the Brewers’ hits, mostly dinks over the infield, were given up by Astorga in the first 3 innings. The bullpen did well after that, no hits, except for the 6th when Serrano hit a guy and walked another, the catcher Sosa allowed a double steal by fumbling a fast ball strike, and then suffered a passed ball, though it may have been called a wild pitch by the official scorer, after which a sacrifice fly to left scored the ultimate winning run: another one of those 2 run innings without a hit.
The Brewers almost managed to throw the game the Mustangs’ way with errors of their own, a wild throw from the right fielder in the 5th; and very high pop fly the funny-looking 2nd baseman managed to muff in the bottom of the 9th, allowing a running Olivares to get to 2nd with no outs. He was sacrificed to 3rd and then, correctly, tried to score when a ball got past the catcher. It required quick action by the catcher, a perfect throw and a fearless pitcher covering home: all of these were present and a chance at a tie score slipped away, quieting the crowd quickly.
Even though it was a loss things are looking better. When our base-running gets more confident, and maybe the 3rd base coach gets more practice, and the batters get used to the wooden bats and continue to improve, and the pitchers learn how to pitch inside without hitting anyone, and the fielding starts to look like it should, then the Mustangs will start to win regularly.
