Chukars Survive Seesaw Game
August 19, 2011 - Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release
With one of the best pitchers in the Pioneer League on the mound for the Great Falls Voyagers the Idaho Falls Chukars hardly expected to find themselves in a slug fest, but when the bats came out it was the Chukars who swung the bigger stick resulting in a 10-9 win in front of 3,216 fans at Melaleuca Field.
Voyagers starter Blair Walters entered the game leading the league with seven wins and boasting an impressive 2.55 ERA, but the Chukars wasted little time in roughing up the left hander with four runs in the first inning to go up 4-1. The first four batters of the inning reached base as Tyler Chism and Luis Piterson singled, Dean Espy walked and Henry Moreno drove in the first run with a bases loaded single. One out later Runey Davis drove in two more runs with a single of his own and, following a Nick DelGuidice base hit, Darian Sandford laid down an RBI drag bunt single to complete the scoring.
Unfortunately for Idaho Falls their pitching wouldn't fare much better, as starter Eric Diaz gave up the lead in the third with 3 Voyager runs.
The Chukars would re-take the lead with a single run in the fourth to go up 5-4, but the Voyagers would pounce on Idaho Falls reliever Willian Avinazar for three runs in the fifth to take their first lead at 7-5.
The Chukars offense would rally one last time in the sixth however, plating five runs to retake the lead for good at 10-7. The big blast of the frame came from Mark Threlkeld, who lined a 2-out, bases loaded double to the left field gap to score three.
The Voyagers would score two more runs in the seventh on a homer from Michael Schwartz, but Chukars closer Edwin Carl would enter in the eighth and retire all six batters in order to lock down the win.
Chism paced the Chukars 13-hit attack going 3-5 with a double and two runs scored while Moreno had a 2-4 night with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
Idaho Falls reliever Robert Penny (3-4) earned the win after throwing two innings and allowing two runs on two hits. Great Falls reliever Kevin Vance (1-1) took the loss as he allowed five runs on five hits over just two innings pitched. Carl saved his fourth game of the year as he struck out five of the six batters he faced.
The win for the Chukars (8-11) snaps their two-game losing streak while the loss ends the Voyagers (11-8) 3-game win streak. The two clubs will meet up again Saturday night for game two of the three-game set at 7:15 p.m.
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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
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