Chukars Bats Silenced in Streak-Snapping Loss
August 19, 2015 - Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release
IDAHO FALLS, ID --- Riding a four-game winning streak coming into Tuesday night, the Idaho Falls Chukars were silenced by the Billings Mustangs by a score of 3-1 at Melaleuca Field.
Scoring an average of over seven runs per game at home this season coming into the night, the Chukars were held to one run on four hits by three Mustangs pitchers.
Idaho Falls mustered there only run of the game on a sacrifice fly from outfielder Roman Collins in the first inning against Billings starter Tanner Rainey (W, 2-1). The Reds competitive balance pick this season went on to shutout the Chukars bats through his final 4.2 innings while striking out four batters en route to the win.
Following Rainey's exit in the fifth inning, righty Sarkis Ohanian and closer Jimmy Herget went on to blank the Idaho Falls offense through the last three innings to secure the victory. The save for Herget was his 11th of the season, which ranks second in the Pioneer League.
From an offensive standpoint, Billings got a pair of RBI singles from first basemen Kevin Franklin in the first inning and third basemen Brantley Bell in the third inning against Chukars starter Daniel Concepcion (L, 1-1). The other lone run of the game was scored on a wild pitch from southpaw Tripp Davis in the eighth inning. Davis went on to strike out a season-high six batters in three innings of relief. Lefty Matt Portland also tossed two scoreless frames for Idaho Falls.
Offensively, the Chukars got a pair of singles from shortstop Marten Gasparini with singles from second baseman D.J Burt and third basemen Ryan Dale. With a single and two walks, Burt extended his on-base streak to 37 games, which is the longest active streak in the Pioneer League.
The loss for the Chukars snaps their four-game win streak overall and seven-game win streak at home.
Continuing with the second leg of their week-long homestand, the Chukars and Mustangs will play game three of a four-game series at Melaleuca Field on Tuesday, The Chukars will send RHP Todd Eaton to the bump while the Mustangs will counter with LHP Ty Boyles. First pitch is at 7:15 PM.
Make sure to tune to John Balginy and Alex Cohen all season long on MiLBTV, the Chukars Tune-In Radio App and live on ESPN 980 AM, 105.1 FM and 94.5 FM.
Pioneer League Stories from August 19, 2015
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