Barmakian Blasts Leadoff Home Run in 9-5 Chukars Win

KALISPELL, MONTANA - Steve Barmakian opened up the ballgame with a leadoff homer in the first, as the Idaho Falls Chukars (3-1) defeated the Glacier Range Riders (1-3) on Friday night at Flathead Field. Chukars pitching limited Glacier to just three hits, and take the season series over the Range Riders.

Leading 1-0 after the leadoff homer, Glacier countered against starter Seth Brewer in the home half on an RBI double from Sam Linscott to tie it up 1-1.

The Chukars would respond in kind with an RBI double from Eric Callahan in the second, and a sac fly from Barmakian that gave them a two-run advantage, 3-1. However, Glacier would tie it up a second time in the home half on a bases-loaded walk and a sac fly from Linscott, which made it 3-3.

In the third, the Chukars would take their third lead. Dusty Stroup reached first on an error by the Glacier starter Rob Hamby, advanced to second on defensive indifference, and went to third on a wild pitch. Thomas DeBonville chopped a groundball to the Hamby, who tried to make the throw home to his catcher Ramon Enriquez, but Stroup beat the throw sliding in home to score and make it 4-3 Chukars. 

Jake Binder would take over on the mound for Brewer and tossed three scoreless innings in his third relief appearance of the season, before he was pulled in the sixth after issuing a leadoff walk. Alex Fishberg (W, 2-0) emerged from the bullpen with no one out and managed two outs on a strikeout in the dirt and a groundout to short. Facing Ben McConnell with pinch runner Brian Williams at third, Fishberg struck McConnell out on a pitch in the dirt that got past catcher Hunter Hiskky, allowing Williams to score on the wild pitch and knot it up at 4-4. A Ryan Cash single would score McConnel and give Glacier their first lead, 5-4.

The Chukars would take their fourth lead of the night in the seventh, and never looked back. Tyler Kelly drew a leadoff walk against debuting pitcher Brady Kais (L, 0-1) and Stroup connected for a single. Jose Reyes delivered the go-ahead swing on a double to left field, scoring Kelly and Stroup to make it 7-5. Glacier threatened to take the lead back against Fishberg in the home half, loading up the bases but Fishberg recovered to strand all three men on base to keep the Chukars ahead.

Two more runs scored in the eighth on RBI singles from Stroup and Reyes to put Idaho Falls up 8-5. In the ninth, Barmakian belted an automatic double that bounced over the center field wall, scoring Brendan Hueth to cap the scoring 9-5.

The series continues tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Both starters are TBD. The game can be heard on KSPZ The Sports Zone.