Chukars Drop Fourth Straight Game, Fall to Missoula
June 23, 2022 - Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release
IDAHO FALLS, ID - The Idaho Falls Chukars (16-9) lost their fourth straight game on Wednesday night, falling to the Missoula Paddleheads (16-9) by a score of 10-6. With the loss, the Paddleheads and the Chukars are tied for first place in the North Division.
Missoula opened up the game with six runs in the first two innings against Jake Binder (L, 2-2) on six hits. Steve Barmakian led off the bottom of the first with a double and came around to score on a fielder's choice.
Down to the Paddleheads 6-1, Nathan Gilman took to the mound in the fourth, making his Chukars debut. He managed a groundout to Brandon Riley, before allowing an unearned run on a Jayson Newman single to make it 7-1 Missoula.
Idaho Falls did not go quietly, however. With one out in the fourth against Nick Merkel (W, 3-0) Sam Troyer belted a triple into center field. Jose Reyes brought him home on a single to cut into the deficit, 7-2.
Gilman began his second inning of work in the fifth by striking out Keaton Greenwalt looking for his first Pioneer League strikeout. He issued a walk to Brenton Davis, and was tagged with a run on a triple from Riley that grew the lead, 8-2. In the sixth, Gilman retired the Paddleheads 1-2-3, concluding his debut with three innings of work, only allowing one earned run, walking two and striking out two.
For the second time in the series, the Chukars attempted to rally a comeback. With one out in the sixth, Troyer reached on an error by the third baseman Cameron Thompson and came around to score on another single from Reyes that made it 8-3.
In the eighth, Troyer led off the frame with a double against reliever Nathan Alexander, who was driven home for the third time by Reyes to make it a four-run game, 8-4. With two outs, Rick Phillips drew a two-out walk that chased Alexander from the game for Cody Thompson. Thompson picked off Reyes at second to end the inning without throwing a pitch.
The Paddleheads pulled away in the ninth against Jon Nunnally Jr, on a solo homer from Cameron Thompson and a bases loaded walk to lead 10-4. The Chukars attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth, scoring two on a Dusty Stroup single and another double from Troyer to cut into the lead 10-6. Jose Reyes lined out to end the game, the fourth straight loss by7 the Chukars.
The series continues today with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The game can be viewed on the Idaho Falls Chukars YouTube channel, and heard on KSPZ The Sports Zone. Both starters are TBD.
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