PL Idaho Falls Chukars

Idaho Falls victorious

Published on September 6, 2015 under Pioneer League (PL)
Idaho Falls Chukars News Release


IDAHO FALLS, ID ---- In game three of a six-game series against the Orem Owlz, the Idaho Falls Chukars beat the Pioneer League South champs in the first half by a score of 9-4 on Saturday night at Melaleuca Field.

A night after falling flat against a Owlz offense that cranked out 11 hits in addition to the 11 runs, the Chukars returned the favor in a big way.

Down 2-0 in the bottom of second, the Chukars sent all nine batters to the plate in the frame, scoring four runs against Owlz starter Jose Rodriguez and reliever Juan Pena (L,0-2). Headlining the surge was a RBI double by outfielder Roman Collins, RBI single by shortstop Jose Martinez, a sacrifice fly by third basemen Logan Nottebrok and a run-scoring groundout off the bat of catcher Nick Dini.

Following two more Owlz runs against Idaho Falls starter Carter Hope in the top of the third to tie the game up at four, the Chukars offense scored the final five runs of the game to roll to victory.

As one of the nine newcomer to the Chukars roster in the last week, designated hitter Brandon Dulinlead the charge. After his run-scoring groundout in the bottom of the third inning gave the Chukars the lead for good, a two-out, two-run double from the Appalachian League all-star in the sixth inning gave the Idaho Falls pitching staff all the run support they needed.

Aside from Dulin, the Chukars got a two-run single from Josh Banuelos in the eighth inning. The hit capped off a stellar night for the recently-named Pioneer League postseason all-star, who went 3-for-3 with two walks and finished a homer away from the cycle. With his two RBI, Banuelos is the first player in the Pioneer League lead to 60 runs batted in.

On the pitching side, the Chukars got a combined five scoreless innings from righties Josh Staumontand Matt Ditman. The two pitchers did not give up a hit and struck out eight batters between the two to secure the victory for the Chukars.

For Staumont, the Royals second rounder improved to 3-1 on the season by tossing 2.2 innings of hitless baseball while striking out four batters. He now has 51 punchouts in just 31.1 innings while donning a Chukars uniform. The win was his second in as many relief appearances.

For Ditman, the newcomer earned his first save during his second appearance with the Chukars this year, striking out four batters without giving up a baserunner in the final 2.1 innings of the game.

On a historic note, a bunt single in the eighth inning by second basemen DJ Burt increased his consecutive games on-base streak to 52 games. It is the longest streak of such kind in baseball this year, leaving the previous record of 47 games by Cardinals outfielder Matt Holliday in the rearview mirror.

Combining the win with a loss from the Ogden Raptors against the Grand Junction Rockies, the Chukars lead in Pioneer League South for the second half increases to two with four games remaining in the regular season. Owners of the first tiebreaker between the two teams by securing the season series by a 9-7 margin, the Chukars magic number now sits at just one. Idaho Falls can clinch the Pioneer League South second half divisional crown on at home Sunday with a win OR a loss by Ogden.

The Chukars will continue six-game series against the Orem Owlz and finish off their regular season home slate in Idaho Falls on Sunday. Idaho Falls will send RHP Julio Pinto to the bump while the Owlz will counter RHP Jaime Barria. First pitch is at 2:00 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 September 6, 2015


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