Chukars Rally Comes Up Short in 6-5 Defeat

IDAHO FALLS, ID - The Idaho Falls Chukars (22-16) fell short of a comeback as they lost to the Great Falls Voyagers (22-16) 6-5 on Thursday night at Melaleuca Field. With the loss, the Chukars are now tied for third place with the Voyagers in the North Division, with the Billings Mustangs jumping both teams into second place. 

The Voyagers opened the scoring in the second against Ramsey Romano (L, 3-2). Two consecutive walks issued by Romano with no outs came back to bite the Chukars as a William Olson RBI single and an RBI fielder's choice from Cristopher DeGuzman made it 2-0. 

Idaho Falls were kept off the board by Breelon Pooler (W, 1-1), as most of their hits came with two outs. The Chukars were able to get runners in scoring position several times, but were unable to get into the run collum by the Voyagers fielding, who turned three double plays in the game. 

Two more Voyager runs scored in the sixth on two singles from Olson and Tavis Brunson to make it 4-0 Voyagers. Idaho Falls scratched across a run in the home half when Hunter Hisky and Calvin Estrada connected for back-to-back singles with two outs brining Dusty Stroup to the plate. Stroup singled to score Hisky from second to put the Chukars on the board, 4-1.

However the Voyagers scored two insurance runs in the seventh. Romano returned to the mound for the seventh, and was tagged with back-to-back solo home runs from Jake Malec and Riley Jepson, increasing their lead to 6-1. In the bottom of the seventh, Aldo Buendia belted a two-out triple but the Chukars were unable to take advantage of it as Steve Barmakian flied out to end the inning.

Idaho Falls made it a one-run game in the eighth. Hisky and Estrada drew one-out walks to put important baserunners on for the Chukars. Stroup struck out against Joshua Gainer (SV, 2), but Brady West kept the rally alive with a walk to load up the bases. Brendan Hueth pinch hit for Eric Callahan and hit a grounder towards second baseman Adam Oviedo. Oviedo fielded it cleanly, but the throw went past the glove of the first baseman, allowing Hisky and Estrada to score and make it 6-3. Jose Reyes then stepped to the dish and roped a double to right field to score two runs and make it a one-run game, 6-5. 

Alex Fishberg tossed a scoreless ninth to keep the score as is and give the Chukars a chance in the home half. However, the Chukars were set down in order by Gainer in the bottom of the ninth, ending the comeback attempt.

The series continues tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Idaho Falls will start LHP Sam Kornstad and the Voyagers start is TBD. The game can be heard on KSPZ The Sports Zone, and viewed on the Idaho Falls Chukars YouTube channel.