The Helena Brewers entered Sunday afternoon’s contest dropping the last two contests against the Idaho Falls Chukars. Looking to snap the streak, the Brewers sent Nelson Hernandez to the hill who was looking to remain undefeated. Hernandez would win his fifth contest of the season, but that was thanks, in large part, to three home runs, including one by Yerald Martinez that helped the power Helena to the 10-5 victory.

After both teams were kept off the scoreboard through the first two frames, the Brewers took the lead with five runs in the bottom of the third against Idaho Falls starter Julio Pinto. With one down, KJ Harrison and Payton Henry drew back-to-back walks. That brought Jay Feliciano to the plate, who drilled his fifth hometown of the season over the left field wall to stake Helena to a three-run lead. Zach Clark followed by drawing the base on balls, then stole second. Two batters later, Yerald Martinez hit his fourth home run of the season over the left field wall to stake the Brewers to a 5-0 lead.

Idaho Falls responded with four runs in the top of the fourth. Robby Rinn doubled to begin the inning before Darrell Miller, Jr. walked. A base hit by Travis Jones loaded the bases, and Tyler Straub brought home the first run for the Chukars with a sacrifice fly. With runners at first and third and one down, Jones stole second, but the throw was wild allowing Miller to come around to score as well. Two batters later, Saturday night’s hero, Freddy Fermin, his first home run of the season, a line drive over the right field wall that cut the Brewers lead to just one.

It would stay that way until the bottom of the fifth when Helena would put up three more runs. Jeremy Gwinn took over for the Chukars, and retired the first two batters of the inning, however, a bloop single by Franly Mallen kept the inning alive, and Martinez followed with a sharp single into right to put two on. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position before José Gomez walked to load the bases. That brought Nick Roscetti to the plate, who drilled a ball to the wall in center field that he would leg out for a triple. All three runners scored on the hit and the Brewers were up, 8-4.

Idaho Falls responded right away with a run in the top of the sixth. Robbie Hitt took over for Helena and retired the first batter before giving up a double to Jones. Two batters later Julio Gonzalez walked and Fermin brought Jones home with the ground single up the middle.

Leading by three, the Helena Brewers extended their lead to five in the bottom half of the inning. Harrison led off by drawing a walk, and Payton Henry followed by blasting his fifth home run of the season to make the score 10-5.

Hitt would then toss two scoreless frames, before Cody Beckman finished off the ninth with a scoreless inning of his own. Nelson Hernandez (5-0) went 5-innings, allowing 6-hits and 4-runs while striking out 2.

The Brewers offense was led by Yerald Martinez, who finished 3-5 with 2-runs and 2-RBI. Jay Feliciano was 2-5 with a run and 3-RBI, and Payton Henry drove in 2 and scored 2. Freddy Fermin led the Idaho Falls offense, going 2-4 with a run and 3-RBI.

The Brewers welcome Ogden to town Monday night. Edwin Uceta (0-2, 15.23) goes for Raptors. He will be opposed by Michael Peterson (0-1, 9.50) First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.

Boxscore

By Robert Pannier