Sparks Walks It Off in Ninth in Win Over Idaho Falls

Missoula, MT - One of the most unique things about coming to the ballpark on a regular basis is that you can always see something new. The same game may be played night in, and night out. But every game of baseball is a little different. Every game can present something that you have never seen before. Game 2 between the Idaho Falls Chukars, and Missoula PaddleHeads on Thursday night at Allegiance Field at Ogren Park was a perfect example of that.  

15 runs combined crossed the plate in the fourth inning alone, easily eclipsing the run total from Wednesday night's contest. After numerous ups, and downs through the night, It would all come down to action in the bottom of the ninth inning with the game tied at 13. After a leadoff triple from Kamron Willman, Lamar Sparks would send the Missoula crowd home happy, lacing a line drive past the shortstop Aldo Buendia to give Missoula a 14-13 victory. 

Before the offensive explosion in the fourth, Missoula would look to be well on their way jumping out to a 6-1 advantage.  RBI singles from Sparks, Keaton Greenwalt, and Nick Gatewood would get the PaddleHeads rolling in the first inning to give Missoula a 3-1 lead. Greenwalt, and Cameron Thompson would then get in on the act in the third as Missoula would jump out to their largest lead of the night. It would prove to not be enough however as Idaho Falls would explode offensively in the next half frame. 

After the dust settled in the top of the fourth, Idaho Falls would exit the top half of the inning with the lead having put 9 runs on the board. The rally would be fueled by a pair of homers  off the bat of Calvin Estrada, and Dustry Stroup. The homer from Estrada would prove to be the exclamation point as well as the Chukars would lead 10-6 after that swing. Idaho Falls would bring 13 batters to the plate. Despite the humongous rally, the home half of the fourth would conclude with Missoula out in front. 

The PaddleHeads proved to not be shaken after the big rally in the top of the fourth scoring 6 runs of their own in the bottom half to snag the lead back at 12-10. Back to back doubles from Jayson Newman, and Gatewood would kick off the scoring to tie the game at 10. Thompson, and Kevin Whatley would then give Missoula the lead back with a pair of singles of their own, erasing the Chukar lead. 

Greenwalt, and Gatewood would be at it again in the next half inning to continue their fabulous nights at the dish to add to the PaddleHeads lead. After a triple from Gatewood to start the inning, Greenwalt would drive him in with a double of his own to make the score 13-11. It was a fitting high point for both players in the game as Gatewood would finish 4-for-5 with 4 runs scored, and 2 driven in while Greenwalt was 3-for-4 with 3 driven in. 

Things would then remain quiet till the ninth for both offenses as Idaho Falls would enter the inning trailing by a pair. The Chukars would prove to have one more trick up their sleeve however as Brady West would hit a 2-run blast over the wall in right to knot things up at 13. Jayson Newman would recover in the outing however, stranding the lead run at third base in the frame giving Sparks the chance to win the game in the ninth. Sparks would come through in the clutch spot giving Missoula their second walk-off win of the season. Sparks finished 3-for-6 on the night. 

Missoula (22-9) surely did not have the night they were expecting to have at the yard on Thursday in the win over the Chukars (18-13). But in the game of baseball, it's always a good idea to expect the unexpected. The PaddleHeads will look for their tenth consecutive victory as well on Friday night in the series finale in the Garden City. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m. Hear the call on ESPN Missoula 102.9 F.M.