PL Idaho Falls Chukars

Chukars Drop Heartbreaker to Rox 2-1

Published on July 7, 2012 under Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release


The Idaho Fall Chukars lost perhaps their most painful game of the season Friday night, as the Chukars blew a 1-0 lead in the eighth and wasted a great start from Andrew Ferguson in a 2-1 to the Grand Junction Rockies at Suplizio Field.

For the first seven innings of the game the story was all about Ferguson. The 23-year-old Arkansas native simply shut down the Rockies lineup allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out five in seven scoreless innings.

The Chukars offense, meanwhile, continued their own struggles against the Grand Junction staff, but an Ysmelin Alcantara solo homer to left to lead off the fifth inning gave the Greybirds a 1-0 lead. With Ferguson on the mound, it looked like the narrow advantage would hold.

Fergie was pulled to start the eighth however, and the game was passed to the Chukars much-maligned bullpen. Lefty Matt Strahm was the first man called upon and looked sharp in striking out Rox third baseman Jason Stolz looking for out number one. The next batter was catcher Frammy Pena who, on an 0-2 pitch, was hit by a pitch and took first base. Strahm would recover to induce a fly-out by Juan Ciriaco, but was then pulled by Manager Omar Ramirez for de-facto closer Alec Mills.

Mills would promptly give up a single to shortstop Matt Wessinger to put runners at first and second with two out. Still seemingly in control, Mills quickly got ahead on center fielder David Dahl 0-2 before Dahl poked a double just inside the third base bag to score Pena and tie the game at 1-1.

With runners now on second and third with two out, Mills once again got ahead of his batter, Ryan Garvey, 0-2 before throwing the strike three pitch in the dirt. The ball skipped through catcher Jin-Ho Shin's legs, allowing Garvey to reach safely and Wessinger to score the winning run.

The Chukars would threaten in the ninth off Rockies closer Scott Oberg, as second baseman Carlos Garcia singled to start the frame and was moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt from Nick Cuckovich. Oberg would bear down after that however, striking out Shin and inducing a fly-out from DH Sam Bates to left field to end the game.

Mills (0-2) took the tough loss for the Chukars with a final line of .1 innings, one run, two hits and two strikeouts. Reliever Ryan Warner (2-0) got the win for the Rockies after allowing one run on two hits over his four innings pitched. Oberg (2) earned the save with his scoreless ninth.

The Chukars offense leaves Grand Junction having been held to just two runs and nine total hits in the two-game sweep.

The Chukars drop to 9-10 with the loss and are now in third place one game back of the 10-10 Rockies. The Greybirds will now travel to Orem for a 3-game series with the Owlz starting Saturday night at 7:00 p.m.

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Pioneer League Stories from July 7, 2012


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