Chukars Win 6-1 on Masterful Pitching Performances

June 22, 2018

Chukars Win 6-1 on Masterful Pitching Performances
By: Tyson Whiting
The Chukars got 2 run home runs by Jesus Atencio and Kyle Isbel and didn't allow a run after the first inning to cruise to a 6-1 victory from Suplizio Field in Grand Junction, Colorado.
The game began with a first inning leadoff triple from Chukars 2B Tyler James. He scored on an Offerman Collado sacrifice fly.
The lone run for the Rockies happened 2 batters in the game. Coco Montes led off the bottom of the first with a double. He scored on a Christopher Navarro single. After that, it was the JC Cloney show in Grand Junction. Cloney ended the night with 6 innings pitched, allowing 6 hits, 1 run, 0 walks and 5 strikeouts. In Cloney's professional career he has only allowed 3 walks in 56 innings.
"I thought it was pretty good tonight. We were working inside pretty well. The offspeed stuff was pretty good and the defense was rolling tonight," says Chukars pitcher JC Cloney.
The Chukars scored 2 runs in the 2^nd inning with a Jesus Atencio 2 run home run to make it a 3-1 game. In the 3rd inning, Center Fielder Kyle Isbel hit his 2^nd home run in 3 games. Tonight's was a 2 run shot to make it a 5-1 Chukars lead.
The only run after the 3^rd inning came when Jose Caraballo scored after he was sent to 3^rd after Nathan Eaton was picked off first. The throw to 3^rd was errant and Caraballo scored without a play.
Chukars bullpen pitched 3 shutout innings as Marcelo Martinez struck out 3 Rockies in 2 innings of work and Jack Klein struck out the last 2 batters to end the game in the 9^th.
"it feels great. We are clicking right now. We have a good, solid group right now. Lots of savvy baseball guys in here and as a staff we are doing what we need to do, throwing a lot of strikes, keeping the walks to a minimum, keeping the defense rolling and the offense is looking great," says Chukars pitcher JC Cloney.
The Chukars are now in first place in the Pioneer League Southern Division with a 5-2 record. They have won 2 of the first 3 games in Grand Junction. They look to win 3 out of 4 against the Rockies on Friday night in Grand Junction. The Chukars will go with RHP CJ Eldred (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs Rockies LHP Wander Cabrera (1-0, 1.29 ERA).