BILLINGS STORMS BACK FOR COMEBACK

BILLINGS STORMS BACK FOR COMEBACK

The Idaho Falls Chukars lost the handle of a six-run lead over the second-placed Billings Mustangs on Wednesday night, with a 11-8 loss at Dehler Park.

The first two innings were a pitching duel, as both teams combined for just four baserunners, with just one Billings batter reaching base. RHP Ian Lanik began his start retiring nine of his first 10 batters in the first three innings.

In the top of the third, the Chuks plated four as each of the first four spots in the lineup scored. SS Ty Dooley singled, stole a base and scored on a OF Sam Canton RBI single, his league leading 53^rd RBI. 3B Justin Trimble tripled home a pair to make the game 3-0.

CF Tyler Wyatt would tack on a sacrifice fly, RBI for good measure to give the Chukars a 4-0 lead.

Billings would plate a pair in the fourth inning, making the game a two-run contest. In the top of the sixth, with two outs, IF put four more runs up on a RBI single from 3B Justin Trimble and a three-run home run from CF Tyler Wyatt, his second four-RBI day of the year to give the Chuks an 8-2 lead.

Trimble would also extend his hitting streak to his season-best of 14 games.

That, however, would be it for the Idaho Falls’ offense as Lucas Hartman would come out of the Billings bullpen and toss three shutout innings with five punchouts.

After Lanik was dominant through the first five, the Mustangs would figure out how to crack the nut and put up a five spot in the sixth, making it a one-run game.

With four in the seventh, it was nine unanswered as Billings won 11-8 in game three of the series.

The Chuks look for their third-consecutive series win on Thursday night, 6:35 PM First pitch from Billings, MT.

All games can be heard on 980AM KSPZ the SportsZone and streamed on the HomeTeam Network.

For ticket information, call (208)522-8363.