Late Homer Ends Chukars Comeback Hopes Against Boise

IDAHO FALLS, ID - A late two-run homer in the eighth ended the Idaho Falls Chukars (22-20) comeback hopes against the Boise Hawks (16-26) in an 8-6 defeat on Tuesday night at Memorial Stadium. It was a back and forth game in which the Chukars tied the game up twice but were unable to lead for long. 

The Hawks opened the scoring against Jack Dicenso (L, 2-3) on an RBI single from Jacob Cruce and a sac fly from Raymond Gil that put them atop early 2-0.

Idaho Falls countered in the top of the second against Boise starter Mitch Lines (2-4). Calvin Estrada and Brady West connected for singles to bring Jose Bermudez to the plate. Bermudez lifted a single into into center field, bringing Estrada home to the put the Chukars on the board, 2-1.

In the fourth, Estrada led off the inning with a double and came around to score on an RBI single to left field from West to tie the game 2-2. West was out on the play however, as the right fielder Juan Teixiera threw West out trying to go to second.

Boise responded in the home half with a leadoff homer from Gil to take the lead right back, 3-2. 

The Chukars took their first, and only lead of the ball game in the fifth. Bermudez led off with a single, his second of the night and swiped second base to put himself in scoring position. Steve Barmakian stepped to the plate, with the Boise inflield shifted towards first base against him. Barmakian beat the shift with a single into left field to tie the game, 3-3. Hunter Hisky followed up withh a double to right field, his 20th of the season to score Barmakian and give the Chukars a 4-3 lead going into the home half. 

The lead did not last long as in the bottom of the fifth, a Cruce RBI single and Texiera scoring on a double play from third base put Boise up a third time 5-4.

Boise grew the lead further against reliver Keagan McGinnis in the seventh. Gil reached on an error by Eric Callahan and was brought home on a double from Ryan Walstad to give them a 6-4 lead. 

Idaho Falls did not go quietely however. An Estrada single to lead off the eighth inning brought Dusty Stroup to the plate. Stroup belted a triple off Teixiera in right field, bringing home Estrada and making it 6-5. With the tying run 90 feet away at third, the Chukars were unable to take advantage of the chance to take the lead. Stroup was later thrown out on a fielder's choice 4-2-6-3, and with Jose Reyes at second Bermudez flied out, ending a potential chance to tie the game for the Chukars.

Boise brought in important insurance in the bottom of the eigth on a two-run homer from Teixiera against Jon Nunnally Jr to increase the lead 8-5. 

In the ninth, the Chukars attempted a comeback. Eric Callahan led off the innng with a single, that chased reliver Matt Dallas from the game. Facing Noah McBride (SV, 2), Callahan advanced to second on a groundout, and to third on a second Barmakian single. Barmakian was caught stealing, bringing the Chukars to their final out. Hisky drew a walk, bringing Estrada to the plate who hit a single up the middle into center field to score Callahan and make it 8-6. However, McBride ended the potential Chukars rally when he struck out Stroup on a 3-2 pitch to end the ballgame. 

The series continues tomorrow with a split-doubleheader, both games going for nine innings. The first game will start at 11 a.m. and the second will start at 7 p.m. LHP Sam Kornstad wlll start Game One, and LHP Victor Rodriguez will make his second start of the season in Game Two.