Defense, Bullpen Falter Late
It looked like a sure thing for the Idaho Falls Chukars. They were up, 6-2, with two out and the bases empty in the bottom of the eighth. Orem was on its way to a big loss at home, and those results would have meant a one-game lead for Idaho Falls with five left to play in the first half.
But, as has been the case multiple times this season, the home team staged late rallies with help from the Chukars. The Helena Brewers were on the receiving end this time, scoring three times in the eighth and twice in the ninth to tie the game before walking off on a single in the 10th to win, 8-7.
Idaho Falls' offense was patient to begin the game, drawing five straight walks to knock out Helena starting pitcher Nash Walters in the second inning. Ryan Dale and Angelo Castellano earned RBI with bases-loaded walks, and Ricky Aracena greeted the reliever with a two-run double to make it 4-0.
Helena got one back in the fifth, but Yeison Melo and David Edwards hit RBI doubles in the seventh to push the lead to 6-1. Manny Olloque started that rally with a single before crossing on Melo's double.
The Chukars clutch hitting was hit-and-miss for the second straight game. They left 11 men on base, including multiple runners at third with less than two out. A runner was also thrown out at the plate after a fly ball.
With two away in the bottom of the eighth, Nick Andros gave up a single and walked a batter before Wes Wilson hit his first home run of the season to make it 6-5. Jason Freeman got out of the inning when Idaho Falls executed perfectly on Helena's double steal attempt, throwing the potential tying run out at the plate.
The Chukars added an insurance run in the ninth. Aracena singled, advanced on an Olloque grounder and scored easily on Melo's single.
Freeman started the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout. Aracena couldn't field a ground ball, but Freeman struck out the next batter. Another grounder was hit to the shortstop, but Edwards couldn't handle Aracena's throw in the dirt. Another chance for the third out was muffed when a line drive was dropped in the outfield as a run scored. Drew Milligan entered and issued a walk before Wilson grounded through the left side. A run scored to tie the game, but Nick Heath unleashed a one-hop throw to gun down the potential winning run at the plate and end the game.
The bottom of the 10th started with a groundout, but Ronnie Gideon doubled to left and Heath played it into an extra base on an error. Nathan Rodriguez lined a single to left that scored the pinch-runner to end the game.
Orem was finished off by Great Falls, but the Chukars failed to move back in front of the Owlz and they remain tied.
Idaho Falls and Helena play game three of their four game series Saturday night at 7:05. The Chukars will look to regain sole possession of first place in the Pioneer League South division with a win and an Orem loss. The Chukars return home Thursday, July 28 to face the Grand Junction Rockies. That will be Bat for the Cure Night and also a celebration of the Idaho Falls Summer Reading Program, all presented by US Bank, KVUI-31, Idaho Falls Magazine and The Hawk.
Make sure to listen to Andrew Haynes on the call of road games on ESPN 980 AM (and the TuneIn app), 105.1 FM and 94.5 FM.
For tickets and other information, call (208) 522-8363, follow the Chukars on Facebook or Twitter (@ifchukars) or visit www.ifchukars.com.