Chukars Outlast Osprey In Extras

Missoula, MT - Extra inning ballgames have been kind to the Chukars in 2019, and in one of the most important games of the year, they came up clutch in extra frames. Tied at three after nine, Idaho Falls scored three in the top of the tenth, and allowed just one in the bottom of the tenth, winning 6-4 and evening the series at one game apiece. With a win tomorrow, the Chukars can clinch the first half title in the North.
The Chukars got the party started right away, as Clay Dungan singled with one out in the first, and Rhett Aplin then reached on an error from shortstop Liover Peguero. Michael Emodi stepped in next, and launched a moonshot to dead center field for a three run homer, his seventh of the year, putting the Chukars up 3-0.
Anthony Veneziano allowed a leadoff single to Cam Coursey in the first inning, but then retired the next eight that he faced. With two out and a full count in the third, Coursey got his second hit of the game, a solo home run to right.
Missoula then tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. Veneziano hit Tristen Carranza to start the frame, and Spencer Brickhouse followed with a double to the wall. Liover Peguero's ground out moved Brickhouse to third, bringing the infield in for Dom Canzone. Canzone scorched a ball at second baseman Jose Marquez, and the ball ate him and scooted into right field for a hit, plating Brickhouse and tying the game.
The Chukars defense pulled a rabbit out of the hat in the eighth inning, as with one out and the game still tied at three, Axel Andueza tripled to deep left center field. Omar Ramriez then decided to walk Carranza intentionally to set up a double play situation in a left on left situation. Brickhouse lined out softly to short, but Carranza was too far off the bag and was doubled off to end the inning and leave the go ahead run at third.
Neither team scored in the ninth inning, sending the game into extras. With the runner placed at second, Emodi singled to right, scoring Aplin to put Idaho Falls up 4-3. Emodi was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double, but teammates Juan Carlos Negret and Ismaldo Rodriguez picked him up with a pair of solo homers, extending the lead to 6-3.
Joe Lienhard entered for the tenth and allowed the placed runner to score, but struck out Carranza with two on and two out to end the game, giving him his first save. Chih Ting Wang earned the win, firing five shutout innings out of the Chukars bullpen.
Tomorrow, the Chukars can earn a playoff birth with a win in the series finale. Stephen Ridings takes the hill, opposed by Dustin Lacaze for Missoula. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM, and you can listen to the game on ESPN 980 The Sports Zone KSPZ or online via the TuneIn App.