Command Issues Plague Chukars in 15-8 Defeat

IDAHO FALLS, ID - Command issues plagued the Idaho Falls Chukars (1-1) pitching staff in a 15-8 defeat to the Glacier Range Riders (1-1) on Wednesday night at Melaleuca Field. Chukars potching walked 10 Range Riders batters, and only tossed a scoreless inning twice in the ballgame. 

Glacier opened the scoring against starter Nicholas Trabacchi (L, 1-4) in the first on a bases loaded walk that scored Ryan Cash. 

The Chukars countered in the home half. With one out, Calvin Estrada crushed a solo homer to left field to tie it up 1-1. 

However, this would be the only tie of the ballgame. In the top of the second, the Range Riders took the lead back on a bases loaded single from Sam Linscott, and on a sac fly from Brody Wofford to center field that made it 4-1.

Idaho Falls would keep within reach in third when Steve Barmakian scored on a wild pitch from Tanner Solomon, 4-2. In the top of the fourth, Glacier made it 7-2 on two-run doubles from Linscott and Dean Miller, which chased Trabacchi from the game.

Despite the deficit, the Chukars tried to stay in the ballgame. They loaded up the bases on three consecutive singles from Jose Reyes, Eric Callahan, and Jose Bermudez. Barmakian stepped to the plate, putting the Chukars down two runs on a triple in left center field, cutting into the deficit 7-5.

Down 8-5 in the fifth, the Chukars made it a one-run game. Dusty Stroup greeted Bret Barnett (W, 1-2) with a leadoff double and was brought home by Brady West on a triple to left field to make it 8-6. West would score on an RBI groundout from Hueth, which made it 8-7 Glacier.

This would be as close as the Chukars would get to taking the lead, as Glacier padded the lead in the sixth on two sac flys to center field and kept adding to the lead throughout the ballgame. Five more runs came across to score over the last two innings to put the game out of reach. 

Hunter Hisky attempted to spark the offense late on a line drive homer to right field, his sixth of 2022 which capped the scoring for the Chukars. Justin Coleman closed the game out for Glacier, securing the 13-8 win.

The home portion of the series concludes tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on KSPZ and viewed on the Idaho Falls YouTube Channel. The Chukars will start RHP Joe Slocum and Glacier will counter with RHP Noah Barros.