Chukars Split 4-Game Series with Voyagers

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After back-to-back wins to open up the series, Idaho Falls followed up with consecutive losses to conclude the series and finish with a split at Great Falls. The Voyagers won the finale, a Sunday matinee, 7-5. 
The Chukars got off to a quick start when Offerman Collado led off with a walk against Parker Rigler to begin the game. Two batters later, Robby Rinn walked. Then, Darrell Miller, Jr. was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Tyler Straub came up and smacked a two-run double to put Idaho Falls on the board. The next batter, Julio Gonzalez, hit a two-run double of his own to give the Chukars a 4-0 lead before the Voyagers could even bat for the first time. 
In the bottom of the first, the Great Falls got three runs back off of Idaho Falls' starting pitcher, Janser Lara, who only recorded two outs in the inning before he was replaced by Jeremy Gwinn. Lara'a line was 0.2 innings, 3 runs (all earned) on 2 hits, with 3 walks (including one with the bases loaded) and 1 strikeout. It was his shortest start of the season. 
The Voyagers scored six unaswered runs against the Chukars. After the three in the first, Great Falls scored one in the third on a Anthony Villa home run off of Gwinn (Villa's Pioneer League-leading 11th home run and his 2nd of the series), one run in the fourth on a solo home run by Max Dutto, and another run in the fifth on an RBI triple by Villa, who finished a double shy of the cycle. 
Idaho Falls finally got back on the board in the top of the seventh when Amalani Fukofuka drove in a run with a single, his 27th RBI of the season. However, Great Falls got the run back in the bottom of the inning on a solo home run from Tyler Frost off of Christopher Marte. The Voyagers led 7-5 after seven innings, which would be the final score of the game. 
For the Chukars offensively, Fukofuka increased his hitting streak to six games. Robby Rinn picked up his Pioneer League-leading 61st hit on a 1-3 afternoon. Chris Hudgins had the only multi-hit contest for Idaho Falls with two doubles. He now has five doubles in his first season as a professional. 
Great Falls' left-hander Parker Rigler (3-1) earned the win after pitching 5 innings, allowing 4 runs (all earned) on 5 hits, with 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, and a hit batter. Jeremy Gwinn (0-3) took the loss for Idaho Falls. He pitched 4.1 innings in relief, allowed 3 runs (all earned) on 4 hits (2 home runs) with no walks and 1 strikeout. Jhoan Quijada picked up his second save for the Voyagers. 
The ballgame last 2 hours and 20 minutes before a crowd of 971 at Centene Stadium. The Chukars are now 19-25 on the season, 3.0 games back in the Pioneer League South Division in the second half, 2-4 in the second half, 10-8 against the North Division, and they split the series 2-2 with Voyagers. Idaho Falls hosts Great Falls for three games between August 11-13 to open up a seven-game homestand. 
The Chukars continue their Montana roadtrip on Monday night for the first of three games against the Mustangs at Dehler Park in Billings. It will be the first meeting between the two clubs in 2017. 
You can listen to the broadcast on Monday night with Logan Ratick on KSPZ, The Sports Zone (ESPN Radio) on 980 AM and 105.1 FM in the Upper Valley, and 94.5 FM in the Pocatello area. All broadcasts stream live on 980thezone.com, as well as on KSPZ via the TuneIn app and at tunein.com. Pregame coverage begins at 6:50 PM MT, followed by first pitch between the Chukars and Mustangs at 7:05 PM.