PL Idaho Falls Chukars

Chukars, Rivera Rout Raptors

Published on July 3, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release


IDAHO FALLS, ID - In game three of a four-game series and seven-game homestand at Melalueca Field, the Idaho Falls Chukars routed the Ogden Raptors by a score of 16-4 on Thursday night.

Riding a three-game losing streak coming into action, the Chukars offense took off in the bottom of the first inning.

Trailing 2-0, Idaho Falls started things off when leadoff hitter DJ Burt and shortstop Marten Gasparini drew consecutive walks against Raptors starter Roberth Fernandrez (L, 1-1). They both scored on back-to-back RBI singles by first basemen Alexis Rivera and outfielder Amalani Fukofuka to tie things up at 2-2. During the next at-bat, the Chukars got a run on an error from the Raptors defense to take a lead that they would not relinquish.

Continuing their surge in the middle innings, Idaho Falls got a two-run single from outfielder Brawlun Gomez and a RBI single by designated hitter Josh Banuelos to take a 6-3 lead after five innings.

After lefty Brandon Thomas relieved Todd Eaton (W, 1-1) and tossed a scoreless frame in the top of the sixth, the Chukars came through in the bottom half the inning with six runs of their own to put the game out of reach. Fueled by three Raptors errors during the course of the inning, RBI singles from Burt, Fukofuka and outfielder Roman Collins highlighted the crooked inning for Idaho Falls.

To cap off the night offensively, the final insurance runs came in the seventh inning on a grandslam from Rivera. On the night, Rivera finished up 2-for-4 with a homer and five runs batted in, For the third-year pro, it was his second homer in as many nights and his league-leading seventh longball of the year. Rivera also currently leads the league with 24 runs batted in.

For the rest of the offense, it was the fourth straight night they totaled double-digit hits. As a team, the Chukars are hitting .326 this year while scoring 127 runs in just 15 games (8.5 per game). It was also the fifth time they have scored 10+ runs in a game this season.

Idaho Falls will wrap up a four-game series and continue seven-game homestand at Melaleuca Field on Thursday night against the Ogden Raptors. The Chukars will send LHP Eric Stout (N/A) while the Raptors will counter with LHP Ivan Vietiez (0-1, 7.11 ERA). First pitch is at 7:15 PM.

Make sure to tune to John Balginy and Alex Cohen all season long on the MiLBTV, the Chukars Tune-In Radio App and live on ESPN 980 AM, 105.1 FM and 94.5 FM.

For tickets or any other information, call (208) 522-8363, follow the Chukars on facebook and twitter at @Ifchukars or visit www.ifchukars.com.

Check out the Idaho Falls Chukars Statistics

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Pioneer League Stories from July 3, 2015


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