PL Idaho Falls Chukars

Idaho Falls loses 7-6

Published on August 30, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release


IDAHO FALLS, ID ---- In game two of a six-game homestand at Melaleuca Field, the Idaho Falls Chukars lost a heartbreaker to the Grand Junction Rockies by a score of 7-6 on Saturday night.

In a ame that featured four lead changes, the Chukars blew a two-run lead on two separate occasions throughout the game.

After a two-run single by outfielder Roman Collins in the first inning put Idaho Falls up 2-0, the Rockies chipped away at the lead against Chukars starter Daniel Concepcion. With a run each in the second, third and fifth innings, Grand Junction turned a two-run deficit into a 3-2 lead midway through the game.

The scored stayed that way in until the bottom of the sixth innings, where the Chukars were able to retake the lead against Rockies reliever Juan Pena. Starting off with a leadoff triple from outfielderAmalani Fukofuka, the Pioneer League All-Star scored on a wild pitch during the next at-bat to tie up the game.

To continue the surge, a single from first basemen Josh Banuelos was followed up with a RBI triple from Collins to put the Chukars up by one. Collins later scored on a RBI single from Brawlun Gomezto make the score 5-3.

Unfortunately, Chukars reliever Josh Staumont (L, 1-1) found difficulty holding the lead in the seventh. Fueled by three walks and a two-run double from outfielder Sam Hilliard, the Rockies scored four runs in the frame to take a 7-5 lead when all was said and done.

In the ninth inning, Idaho Falls scored their final run on a pair of wild pitch by Kelvin Franco that allowed catcher Luis Lara to score after a leadoff single. Franco settled down and struck out a pair of Chukars batters to secure the victory for Grand Junction.

Offensively, the Chukars were lead by two hits apiece from Burt, Collins and Fukofuka.

For Burt, his two-hit night increased his consecutive games on-base streak to 46 games. It is the longest active streak of such kind in professional baseball. Cardinals outfielder Matt Holiday has the longest consecutive games on-base streak in baseball this year overall at 47 games.

Combined with the win from the Ogden Raptors on Friday, the Chukars are now tied with the Raptors for first place in the second half of the Pioneer League South standings with 10 games remaining in the regular season.

The Chukars will continue their six-game homestand at Melaleuca Field with the third of four games against the Grand Junction Rockies on Sunday. Idaho Falls will send RHP Todd Eaton to the bump while the Rockies will counter with LHP Michael Zimmerman First pitch is at 7:15 PM.

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

Check out the Idaho Falls Chukars Statistics

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Pioneer League Stories from August 30, 2015


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