Angels top Mustangs again

The Provo Angels posted their second win in as many nights over the Billings Mustangs in a pairing of the two teams having clinched Pioneer League playoff berths after winning their respective divisions in the first half of the season.

The Angels triumphed 5-1 Saturday night in Billings, on the heels of a 2-0 shutout the night before at Cobb Field in Billings.

While the two teams have ensured their postseason status, they have taken different routes since the start of the second half of the season. Provo (17-6) is atop the Southern Division, a full six games ahead of its nearest competitor.

Meanwhile, Billings (10-14) has bottomed out in the Northern Division, trailing second-half leader Great Falls by five games.

The Angels plated all the runs they needed — two — early in the game. In the second inning, Andrew Toussaint scored on a double play; in the third, Joshua Leblanc brought in another with an RBI single.

Billings scored its sole run in the fourth as Bobby Mosby hit a home run off Provo starter Billy Layman. But Provo added insurance runs soon after — RBIs in the sixth with a JR Renz single and a Chris Walston sacrifice fly and another run in the seventh as Mike Perdoma was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Layman struck out five in four innings of work, but the win went to Bill Edwards (4-1), who pitched three innings and allowed three hits and no runs while striking out five. Mitchell Arnold picked up his 13th save.

The two teams conclude their three-game series today at 4 p.m.

GREAT FALLS 9, RAPTORS 4: At Great Falls, the White Sox scored seven runs in seven straight at bats in the third Inning to take the first game of a three-game series. Tom Collaro hit a grand slam to cap the 7-run spurt. Cole Bruce had two hits and went deep for Ogden.