Garcia Walks Off Missoula As Mustangs Win 3-2

BILLINGS-Jalen Garcia hit a go-ahead home run in the eighth and a walk-off single in the ninth and Ethan McRae spun 7.0 dominant innings to lead the Billings Mustangs to a 3-2 victory over the Missoula Paddleheads on Sunday at Dehler Park.

Billings (20-15, 45-37) earns a split of the six-game series against Missoula (24-12, 59-24), while also earning their third walk-off victory of the season.

In the second, Missoula took the lead against Billings starter Ethan McRae. Nick Gatewood roped the first pitch of the inning into the right field corner for a leadoff double. After moving to third on a flyout, Gatewood came home on a wild pitch to put Missoula in front 1-0.

In the third, Billings had a chance to draw even. Jacob Kline dropped a fly ball just out of the reach of Keaton Greenwalt in center field, then moved to third on a fly ball. However, Missoula starter Domingo Pena struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

In the fourth, though, Billings was able to break through against Pena. Juan Teixeira and Jackson Raper led off with singles, before Gabe Wurtz lined a base hit to left to score Teixeira, tying the game at one apiece.

Billings nearly regained the lead in the fifth as Garcia doubled with two outs and Crews Taylor worked a 3-1 count. On that pitch, he hit a ground ball in the hole on the right side of the infield, but McClain O'Connor made a diving stop and threw out Taylor at first to end the inning, saving a run.

On the other side, McRae continued his excellent outing for the Mustangs. He allowed a leadoff walk in the fourth and a single in the fifth, but in both instances, he retired the next three batters to end the inning with no major troubles. In the sixth, he struck out two in a 1-2-3 frame.

He finished off his outing just as strong in the seventh, throwing another 1-2-3 frame. He retired the final nine hitters he faced, allowing one run on just three hits while striking out five over 7.0 innings.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Mustangs strung together a pair of singles to put two on with one out. However, Mark Simon came on for Missoula and induced a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning on his very first pitch.

In the eighth, though, Garcia came through with a big hit. On a 1-2 offering from Simon and lined it over the right field wall for a solo home run, his 11^th of the season. The blast put the Mustangs ahead 2-1.

After earning the last out of the eighth, Zach Penrod came on to try to finish the job. With one out he walked Jayson Newman. After a strikeout, he was one strike away from nailing down the win. However, McClain O'Connor ripped a 1-2 pitch down the left field line, tying the game on a double.

Billings, though, had one more rally in them. Against Missoula closer Sam Hellinger, Brian Parreira hit a one-out bloop single, followed by a walk and a hit batter to load the bases. After a strikeout, Garcia came to the plate with the bases loaded and two out. On a 2-2 count, he ripped a line drive just past a diving O'Connor into center field, walking it off for a 3-2 win.

Great way to end a homestand if we must say so ourselves!

(��: @KeyanRitz) pic.twitter.com/e7HV2xI8hN

— Billings Mustangs (@Mustangs) August 29, 2022

The Mustangs will travel to Ogden to begin a six-game series against the Raptors on Monday night. Starters for both teams are still to be determined Pregame on Monday on the home of the Mustangs, ESPN 910/105.5 FM with Brennan Mense will begin at 6:10 ahead of a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.