Chukars Drop Fourth Straight Game to Voyagers in Series Finale

IDAHO FALLS, ID - A four-run eighth inning ended the Idaho Falls Chukars (22-19) ended another potential comeback in a 9-3 loss to the Great Falls Voyagers (25-16) on Sunday afternoon at Melaleuca Field. The Chukars began the series in second after winning the first two games, but four straight losses put the Chukars in fourth place of the North Division.

 A pitcher's duel ensued early between Tyler Naumann (W, 1-3) and Chukars' starter Joe Slocum (L, 3-3) as no runs scored in the first two innings between both teams. Slocum faced the minimum in his first two innings, keeping the Voyagers off the board early.

However in the third, Great Falls opened the scoring. A Breydon Daniel sac fly with one out made it 1-0 Voyagers. A Jake Malec single into right field scored Myles McKisic to make it 2-0.

The Chukars scored their first run in the fourth inning. Jose Bermudez reached on a fielder's choice with two outs, bringing Jose Reyes to the plate. Reyes lifted a fly ball out into left field, the left fielder Michael Deeb tried to make a sliding catch but the ball bounced off him, allowing Reyes to send Bermudez home on a triple to cut into the lead, 2-1.

Slocum returned to work the fifth, but was tagged with two solo homers from Adam Oviedo and Jake Malec that extended the Voyagers lead 4-1. Despite taking the loss, Slocum finished with one walk and five strikeouts. 

Idaho Falls made it a one-run game in the sixth. Calvin Estrada led off the inning with a single, but was held at first due to back-to-back flyouts. Reyes stepped to the plate and belted a homer into left field for his third Chukar home run, putting the Chukars one run behind the Voyagers, 4-3. 

Keagan McGinnis took to the mound in the seventh, and managed two outs on a groundout and when Hunter Hisky caught Daniel stealing. However, McGinnis surrendered a solo homer from Malec, his second of the game that put Great Falls up 5-3.

The game was opened up in the eighth, as the Voyagers put up four runs to put the game out of reach on a two-run single and doulbe to make it 9-3.

The Chukars will enjoy an off-day on Monday before traveling to Boise on Tuesday to take on the Boise Hawks in a seven-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with both starters TBD.