Rockies clinch playoff spot, then beat Idaho Falls

The playoff bottle was clinched before it ended, but the Grand Junction Rockies won for good measure, beating Idaho Falls 9-5 at Suplizio Field.

Ogden beat Orem 4-2 earlier in the night to seal the Rockies playoff fate, getting them in by way of having the second best record in the division.

After the Chukars went down in order in the first, the Rockies sent ten to the plate and scored five runs on seven hits to grab the lead.

Ben Waldrip drove in the first run with a single, Carl Thomore hit a three run homer, and Max White knocked in the fifth run with a single.

The Rockies added to the lead with two runs in the third. Max White tripled in the second to make to make it 7-0, and he tripled in two more runs in the fifth to give the Rockies a 9-0 lead. White finished with three hits and a walk.

Idaho Falls was finally able to get to Jayson Aquino in the seventh, scoring three runs, two earned. The lefty tossed six and two thirds innings, picking up his fourth win.

The Chukars scored a run in the eighth and ninth to get it within 9-5.

The win gets the Rockies to 41-32 for the season and 20-15 in the second half. They will open the playoffs Friday afternoon against the Ogden Raptors in game 1 of a best of three series.

Tuesday night, the Rockies and Chukars will play for the final time in 2012 when they conclude their four game series. First pitch from Suplizio Field is set for 7:05 with Shawn Stuart making his second start of the season against Clayton Schulz.