Chukars Complete Sweep of Boise in 5-4 Win

IDAHO FALLS, ID - The Idaho Falls Chukars (10-5) completed the thee game sweep over the Boise Hawks (3-12) in a 5-4 victory on Thursday night at Melaleuca Field. The win gives the Chukars their 11th win over the Hawks, and is the second time this season the Chukars have swept a team in three games.

Idaho Falls threatened early when they loaded up the bases against Boise starter Matt Gabbert (L, 4-4), however the Chukars grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, ending the opportunity to take the early lead.

However, the Chukars would not be denied. in the bottom of the second, Tyler Kelly connected for a leadoff single that went through the left side to bring Seth Strong up to the plate for his first at-bat as a Chukar. With the count 0-2, the Hubert Heights Ohio native belted a two-run homer to right field to put the Chukars up 2-0. 

Boise would counter against Jack Dicenso (W, 4-4) in the top of third on a two-run homer from Sean Skelly to tie it up 2-2. 

The score would stay this way until the fifth, when the Chukars plated two runs to take their second lead of the night. A Steve Barmaian double and a Hunter Hisky single put two runners on for Jose Reyes, who singled through the left side to score Barmakian and put Idaho Falls up 3-2. Dusty Stroup followed up with a single into left field to knock Hisky in to make it a 4-2 game. 

Dicenso worked through the seventh inning, his second start this season where he's been able to go seven. He struck out five and walked only one Boise batter, allowing just two runs.

Boise made it close in the top of the eighth on a two-run double to left center field from Raymond Gil to make it a 5-4 game. Kevin Pindel kept the Chukars off the board in the home half to keep ti a one-run game. 

Nate Jenkins (SV, 7) finished Boise off in the top of the ninth, tossing a 1-2-3 inning to close out the ballgame and earn his team-leading seventh save of the season. 

The Chukars will travel to Boise to take on the Hawks in a three-game set with first pitch tomorrow set for 7:05 p.m. Both starters are TBD. The game can be heard on KSPZ The Sports Zone.