Chukars stay alive with Fukofuka's blast

For at least the past month, the Rookie-level Idaho Falls Chukars have approached every game with the same motto: "Biggest game of the year." It definitely fit the bill Tuesday.

The team that had to fight to get into the Pioneer League playoffs forced a winner-take-all finale for the title with a 5-3 Game 2 win over Missoula. The decisive Game 3 will be played Wednesday at Missoula.

The Royals affiliate took the lead in the fifth inning against starter Cameron Smith. Down 3-0, Xavier Fernandez reached on a fielding error by third baseman Kal Simmons to start the inning. Smith retired the next two batters before surrendering a single to Cody Jones and D.J. Burt's run-scoring hit. Then Amalani Fukofuka connected for a three-run homer.

"He's an off-speed guy ... a lot of changeups and sliders," Fukofuka said of Smith. "I was sitting on a pitch middle away. I got to two strikes and just tried to battle. He threw a hanging slider, I got good barrel on it and it just took off."

Missoula's Jason Morozowski doubled in a run and later scored on a throwing error by first baseman Josh Banuelos in the first inning, then Francis Christy extended the lead with a solo blast to center in the second.

The runs came off Derek Gordon, who settled down to strike out a career-high 10 while allowing three runs -- two earned -- on three hits over 6 2/3 innings for the win. That helped spare the Idaho Falls bullpen, after seven pitchers were used in Sunday's 17-9 Game 1 loss.

"He had everything working," said Chukars manager Justin Gemoll of Gordon. "He had good energy before the game and he settled in nicely. He got better as the game went on. He commanded both sides of the plate and had good downhill plane on his pitches. It was a tremendous effort against a very good hitting Missoula team."

Idaho Falls put the game out of reach in the eighth. After a throwing error by Missoula shortstop Isan Diaz put Banuelos on base with two outs, Brandon Dulin doubled him in. All five of the Chukars runs were unearned and scored with two outs.

Meanwhile, the Osprey were retired in order from the fifth frame through the eighth. Josh Staumont pitched the final two scoreless innings, giving up a single to Morozowski and hitting Luke Lowery with a pitch in the ninth before closing the door.

"We've come from behind all season," Gemoll said. "We've had a lot of wins where we've won the back half of the game. Tonight was the same story. Guys stayed focused with two outs, not trying to do too much."