Chukars Fall 9-6 in 11 Innings
August 19, 2011 - Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release
The Idaho Falls Chukars showed a lot of resiliency Thursday night as the club rallied in both the eighth and tenth innings to extend the game, but in the end the grey birds came up one rally short as they fell to the Billings Mustangs 9-6 on Star Wars/Sausage Party Night at Melaleuca Field.
The first three innings of the ballgame were dominated by Billings, as the Mustangs went up 4-1 on struggling Chukars starting pitcher Kellen Moen. Reliever Jonathan Dooley entered the game in the fourth however and stopped the bleeding for the Chukars by tossing four hitless innings, striking out eight.
The Chukars offense, which had scored a single run in the fifth to pull to 4-2, finally got going in the eighth as they scored two runs on two hits to tie the game at 4-4. Center fielder Tyler Chism kick started the rally with a one-out double and came in on an RBI single by left fielder Chris Elder. Elder would eventually come in to score the tying run on a wild pitch. The Chukars actually had a chance to take the lead in the eighth, but third basemen Mark Threlkeld struck out with two men in scoring position to end the inning.
Fast-forward to the tenth and the Chukars fell behind again when Billings right fielder Kyle Waldrop hit a 2-run home run to put the Mustangs up 6-4.
Idaho Falls would respond with another rally in the bottom of the inning as first baseman Henry Moreno and Threlkeld each hit 2-out RBI doubles to once again tie the game at 6-6. Unfortunately, once again the Chukars failed to drive in the winning run from scoring position as catcher Edul Escobar flied out with Threlkeld on second to send the game to the eleventh.
In the 11th the Mustangs would take yet another lead, this time posting three, 2-out runs to go back up 9-6. Finally, in the bottom of the inning, the Chukars ran out of comebacks as Billings reliever Pat Quinn struck out the side to finish the 3:05 contest at 9-6.
Quinn (2-2) would earn the win for the Mustangs despite being the pitcher to blow the lead in the 10th. Chukars reliever Spencer Patton (1-1) would take the loss after allowing the three Billings runs in the 11th on three hits.
With the loss the Chukars (7-11) and Mustangs (10-8) split their four game series. Idaho Falls will now host the Great Falls Voyagers starting Friday night at 7:15 p.m.
• Discuss this story on the Pioneer League message board...
Pioneer League Stories from August 19, 2011
- Chukars Survive Seesaw Game - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Osprey Fall to Raptors, 10-3 - Missoula PaddleHeads
- Chukars get series opening win over Voyagers - Great Falls Voyagers
- Baker Picks up 4 RBIs as Owlz Escape with 5-4 Win - Northern Colorado Owlz
- Chukars Fall 9-6 in 11 Innings - Idaho Falls Chukars
- Osprey Tripped by Owlz, 5-4 - Missoula PaddleHeads
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
