PL Idaho Falls Chukars

Chukars Survive Slugfest 16-14

Published on June 19, 2012 under Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release


In their second consecutive bizarre Opening Day, the Idaho Falls Chukars survived a slugfest with the Orem Owlz with a 16-14 victory in front of 2,808 fans at Melaleuca Field.

In a game that saw 30 combined runs, 29 hits, nine errors, 16 walks, and a run scored in every inning except the sixth and ninth, the Chukars overcame an early 7-2 deficit and two blown leads of their own to win on Opening Day for the first time since 2009.

First baseman Rainier Bello led the Chukars attack, going 4-5 with a double, triple and two RBI. Shortstop Jack Lopez, right fielder Elier Hernandez, left fielder Julio Aparicio, and center fielder Ethan Chapman all had multi-hit games as well.

The scoring started in the first as Orem struck first with a solo home run from shortstop Wendell Soto, but Idaho Falls responded quickly with two runs of their own thanks to singles from Lopez and Adalberto Mondesi and RBIs from Mondesi and Nicholas Cuckovich.

The Owlz would break things open in the second however, scoring six runs on five hits to take a 7-2 lead. That would be the last time Orem would score for four innings however, as the Chukars plated two in the third, one in the fourth, and three in the fifth to retake the lead at 8-7.

Idaho Falls reliever Clayton Schulz was the reason for the Owlz offensive lull, as the left-hander tossed four shutout innings on four hits and two strikeouts. Unfortunately, as soon as Schulz left the game, the Orem scoring resumed.

With Schulz gone, the Owlz pounced for a single run in the top of the seventh to re-tie the game at 8-8. The Chukars would respond quickly again though, scoring six runs in the bottom half on the strength of back-to-back triples from Bello and Chapman to re-take the lead at 14-8.

The seemingly comfortable lead would be short lived for the Chukars though, as Orem responded with six runs of their own in the eight to once again tie the game at 14-14. The big blow for Idaho Falls in the inning was an error by Hernandez in right which led to four unearned runs for the Owlz.

Despite the blow, the Chukars offense would not let up, as the relentless squad struck again in the bottom of the eighth for two more error assisted runs to take the lead once and for all at 16-14. Mondesi ended up with the game-winning RBI on a fielder's choice.

Reliever Fernando Cruz (1-0) earned the win for Idaho Falls despite allowing an unearned run in just .1 innings. Aaron Sookee (0-1) took the loss for the Owlz after giving up four runs, none earned, over 1.2 innings. Kevin Allen (1) picked up the save for a scoreless ninth, albeit with two walks thrown in.

The Chukars (1-0) will host the Owlz (0-1) again tomorrow at Melaleuca Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7:15 pm.

Check out the Idaho Falls Chukars Statistics

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Pioneer League Stories from June 19, 2012


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