Chukars Edged In Series Opener

Idaho Falls, ID - Back home for the first of a three game series with the Great Falls Voyagers, the Idaho Falls Chukars couldn't muster up enough offense to overcome an early hole. Great Falls downed the Chukars 4-3, sending Idaho Falls to their sixth straight loss. The Chukars have dropped their last five against the Voyagers and have lost six straight for the third separate time this season.
The Chukars' outfield defense has struggled of late, and the struggles continued in the top of the second. With two out and nobody out, Jonathan Allen blooped a single into right that probably could have been caught by Juan Carlos Negret, but he didn't get in quick enough. The next batter was Josh Rivera, who hit a lazy fly into center. Center fielder Isaiah Henry broke back, but then had to break in and the ball landed in front of him. The ball then deflected off of him and to his right, allowing Allen to score and moving Rivera up to second. Cabera Weaver stepped in next, and he doubled off the center field wall, scoring Rivera to make it 2-0 Voyagers.
Idaho Falls got a run back in the bottom of the second inning, as Negret led off with a single, and two batters later Henry followed with an infield single. That brought up Wyatt Mascarella, who singled up the gut into center, scoring a run to cut the deficit in half. A two out single from Kember Nacero loaded the bases but Jose Marquez struck out to keep it a one run game.
Great Falls started the fifth inning with a bang as Cabera Weaver tripled to open up the frame, ending the night for Anthony Veneziano. Chih-Ting Wang came in and allowed an RBI single to Kelvin Maldando, making it 3-1 Great Falls. Luis Curbelo tripled two batters later to extend the lead to 4-1.
In the seventh, the Chukars loaded the bases with one out thanks to singles from Nacero, Marquez, and Dungan. Negret popped out with one out, but Rhett Aplin delivered with a single down the third base line, scoring two and moving the tying run Dungan to third. However the Chukars couldn't get Dungan across, and went down in order over the final two frames, falling 4-3. Three of the last four losses have all occurred by just one run.
The Chukars are back at it tomorrow with a 7:15 PM first pitch against Great Falls. Tickets are still available by visiting ifchukars.com.