The Billings Mustangs are sitting in second place of the Pioneer League North Division with a second half record of 14-13. That places them a game behind Missoula, but for all intents and purposes, Missoula doesn’t really matter though as they won the first half title. That means that Billings is leading the way for the playoff spot up fro grabs, holding a two game lead over Great Falls with 11 games remaining in the season, including wrapping up the season with two games at home against Great Falls.
The Mustangs have run off four wins in a row to put themselves where they are now and they’ve done so on the back on strong starting pitching over the last three nights.
Three nights ago the team got seven shutout innings from left hander Jacob Constante with just three hits allowed, a walk and he struck out seven batters. The Mustangs would win that game 2-1. It was another start in a run of outstanding starts as the left hander has posted a 1.65 ERA in his last six starts that span 32.2 innings with 12 walks and 32 strikeouts.
On Wednesday night right hander Jose Lopez took the mound. He, like Constante before him, Lopez came through with the best start of his career. Over seven innings he allowed just two runs with eight strikeouts. It was easily the longest outing of his short career and continued his incredible month of August where he now has a 0.72 ERA in 25.0 innings with five walks and 32 strikeouts.
Last night was the third straight night of outstanding starts as right hander Franderlyn Romero took the mound and fired off six shutout innings. He allowed five hits without a walk and he struck out seven batters in what turned out to be the best start of his 2015 season. In his last eight starts he has posted a 2.95 ERA in 39.2 innings with eight walks and 31 strikeouts.
With the Mustangs fighting for a playoff spot with two weeks left in the regular season the starting pitching has started clicking down the stretch. Over the last three nights the starting pitching has posted this line:
| IP | H | BB | K | ERA |
| 20.0 | 15 | 2 | 22 | 0.90 |
That’s about as strong as it comes.