Four-Run Second Lifts Chukars to 11-3 Win Over Hawks

BOISE, ID - A four-run second inning helped the Idaho Falls Chukars (25-21) defeat the Boise Hawks (17-29) 11-3 on Friday night at Memorial Stadium. With the win, the Chukars move into third place in the North Divison, and lead the season series over Boise 6-4. 

Boise opened the scoring against Joe Slocum (W, 4-3) on a two-run double from Freddy Rojas Jr to take a 2-0 lead. However, it did not last long.

Facing starter Buddie Pindel (L, 3-2) in the second, the Chukars put up four runs to take the lead. Brady West led off the inning with a double, and was advanced to third on a Brendan Hueth single. Jose Reyes drove in West on a single through the left side to make it 2-1. With two outs in the second, Steve Barmakian gave the Chukars the lead on two-run triple belted off the right center field wall, making it 3-2. Barmakian scored on an RBI singe from Calvin Estrada which put the Chukars up 4-2. 

In the third, Dusty Stroup kept the bats hot with a leadoff solo homerun, his 13th of the season to increase the lead 5-2. Hueth then doubled down the left field line, scoring on a Reyes single hit up the middle to make it 6-2. Reyes was brought home to score from third on an RBI single from Jose Bermudez to chase Pindel from the game and grow the lead further, 7-2. 

Slocum kept Boise off the board after allowing the two runs in the first. He struck out five in a row at one point during the game, and struck out the Hawks side in the third. With trust in the Chukars defense, Slocum was able to last six innings on the mound, tossing his second quality start of the season. 

In the fifth with two outs, Eric Callahan doubled to left center to score Hueth and make it 8-2. Down to two outs in the sixth, Hunter Hisky belted his fifth homer of the season to pad the lead more for the Chukars, 9-2. 

A Stroup sac fly and an RBI single up the middle from Hueth in the eighth put the Chukars up 11-2.

Boise capped the scoring with an RBI double from Ryan Walstad against Jon Nunnally Jr, cutting into the lead 11-3. The Hawks loaded up the bases, but Nunnally managed out of the inning on a 6-4-3 double play. Nunnally returned for the bottom of the ninth, and tossed a 1-2-3 frame to secure the Chukars victory.

The series continues tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Making his professional debut for the Chukars will be RHP Seth Brewer, and Boise will start RHP Matt Gabbert.