PL Idaho Falls Chukars

Chukars' Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss

Published on June 21, 2012 under Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release


As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end, and so it is with the Idaho Falls Chukars as the greybirds lost for the first time this season, 4-3, to the Grand Junction Rockies at Melaleuca Field.

On the heels of a three-game sweep against the Orem Owlz to start the season, the Chukars offense was riding high with 34 runs scored and a .375 team batting average. On Thursday night however, the bats fell silent with Idaho Falls stranding 11 men on base. Despite picking up 11 hits, the Chukars went just 2-17 with runners in scoring position.

The lack of offense spoiled a solid start from right-hander Ali Williams, who went 5 innings allowing just one run on three hits and seven strikeouts. Even the Chukars bullpen was solid, but a 6th inning error proved to be the birds undoing.

Reliever Alec Mills entered a 1-1 game in the 6th and quickly induced a ground out from Rockies center fielder David Dahl to start the inning. The following batter was right fielder Julian Yan who reached on an infield single to put a runner at first with one out. What happened next should have ended the inning, as first baseman Ben Waldrip tapped back to the mound to start what should have been an easy 1-6-3 double play. Instead, Mills threw wide of the bag allowing everyone to be safe. Grand Junction wasted little time in cashing in on the opportunity, with third baseman Jason Stolz blasting a 2-run double to right to put the Rockies back up 3-1.

The Rockies would score once more in the top of the eighth with a hit batsman and another error leading to a 4-1 Rockies lead. That final run would prove pivotal, as the Chukars staged a ninth inning rally to draw within one.

Shortstop Adalberto Mondesi started things off with a one-out double and, after a passed ball, was driven in on a Carlos Garcia RBI groundout. The inning continued when right fielder Elier Hernandez doubled to right and was brought in one batter later on an RBI single from third baseman Nicholas Cuckovich to make the score 4-3. The rally would end there however, as first baseman Rainier Bello grounded out hard to second to end the game.

Hernandez finished the night going 2-5 with a double and an RBI, while Cuckovich also went 2-5 with an RBI of his own.

Mills (0-1) took the loss for Idaho Falls after pitching a total of 2 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits. Reliever Ryan Warner (1-0) got the win for the Rockies after tossing two innings, giving up one run on four hits. Jesse Meaux (1) earned the save for Grand Junction despite giving up two runs on three hits in the ninth.

With the loss the Chukars drop to 3-1 on the season while the Rockies get their first win and improve to 1-3. The two clubs will wrap up the brief series tomorrow, with first pitch from Melaleuca Field scheduled for 7:15 p.m.

Check out the Idaho Falls Chukars Statistics

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Pioneer League Stories from June 21, 2012


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