PL Idaho Falls Chukars

Ghosts Gouge Chukars in 14-2 Loss

Published on August 6, 2011 under Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release


Coming off a huge come-from-behind win in Orem the night before the Idaho Falls Chukars looked lifeless on Friday night, as they were outplayed in every way possible by the Casper Ghosts in a 14-2 shellacking at Mike Lansing Field.

The Chukars, who had a long and troublesome bus ride from Orem to Casper Friday morning, looked like a team not ready to play as their pitching was roughed up for 17 hits and 14 runs, their offense stranded 10 men on base while mustering 13 singles, and their defense committed an error and were lucky not to be tagged for more.

Things started off normal enough in the first inning, as Chukars ace starter Brian Peacock appeared to be on his game. The second inning however is where everything began to fall apart, as Peacock was roughed up for five runs on six hits. The southpaw did not appear to have his normal command, as he fell behind virtually every batter.

Reliever Gary Cuevas entered the game in the third, but fared no better as he too gave up five runs on five hits to put the Chukars down 10-0.

The Ghosts would add on three more runs off of Chukars reliever Nathan Johnson in the sixth when left fielder Dillon Thomas, who was making his professional debut, launched a 3-run home run over the right field wall. Thomas would then proceed to admire his shot and "showboat" a little too much for Johnson's liking prompting the right-hander to throw behind the next batter Julian Yan.

Home plate umpire James Rackley would immediately issue warnings to both benches and Chukars manager Brian Buchanan would come out and talk to his young hurler as well. Two innings later, after the Ghosts had scored their final run in the seventh, Johnson faced Thomas again. Instead of the feared retaliatory beaning however, Johnson proceeded to strikeout Thomas as part of an uneventful eighth inning.

The Chukars offense meanwhile was not able to score until plating two meaningless runs in the ninth. The grey birds managed a hit in eighth of the nine innings and had a man in scoring position in seven different frames, but failed to come up with timely, RBI hits.

Center fielder Tyler Chism finished the night 3-5 while right fielder Chris Elder went 2-4 with an RBI. For the Ghosts, Thomas went 3-5 with a home run and three RBI in his debut. Yan also had a big night finishing 2-3 with a triple and three RBI.

Peacock (2-4) took the loss for the Chukars after giving up five runs on seven hits over just two innings pitched. Ghosts reliever Brook Hart (2-1) earned the win after pitching five innings and surrendering only two runs on eight hits.

The Chukars (2-4) and Ghosts (5-1) will play game two of their 4-game series Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.

Check out the Idaho Falls Chukars Statistics

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Pioneer League Stories from August 6, 2011


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