PL Grand Junction Jackalopes

Hilliard's Knock Lifts Rockies over Chukars

Published on August 30, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Grand Junction Jackalopes News Release


Sam Hilliard's two out, two run double in the seventh inning broke a 5-5 tie as the Grand Junction Rockies beat the Idaho Falls Chukars Saturday night at Melaleuca Field 7-6.

Hilliard's double capped a four run inning, with all four runs scoring with two out, and it occurred after the Chukars scored three runs in the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead. Anthony Brito drew a bases loaded walk to make it 5-4, and Cole Anderson scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, setting up Hilliard.

The win gets the Rockies to 8-20 in the second half, 28-38 overall, and it is their first win in a game decided by one run since June 24, snapping an 11-game losing skid in one run games.

Roman Collins put the Chukars on top when he singled home a pair of runs with two out in the first. The Rockies got one of those back when Hilliard scored from third with two out on a wild pitch, and they tied the game with an unearned run in the third. Bobby Stahel followed Mylz Jones' two out double in the fifth with a single, giving the Rockies their first lead of the series, but it was gone in the sixth.

Amalani Fukofuka tripled to start the inning and scored on a Campbell Wear throwing error. They got the lead when Collins followed Josh Banuelos' single with a triple, and Brawlun Gomez singled home Collins to make it 5-3.

After the Rockies took the lead, Scott Firth worked around a walk and single in the seventh, and after he struck out the side in the eighth, Kelvin Franco surrendered a run in the ninth, but struck out D.J. Burt to end the game, giving him his second save, and Juan Pena his first win.

Hilliard had the Rockies only two hit game. Burt, Fukofuka, and Collins had two hits for Idaho Falls. Collins plated three runs.

The Chukars loss coupled with Ogden's come from behind win puts them in a tie for first place in the South Division with 10 games to play. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

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Pioneer League Stories from August 30, 2015


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