Billings, MT - The last time the Idaho Falls Chukars played a Sunday game in Dehler Park, they won in extra innings, beating the Mustangs 7-5. That game ended on a dramatic play, as Reniel Ozuna hit into a game ending double play. Today might have been more dramatic, as
Billings, MT - The last time the Idaho Falls Chukars played a Sunday game in Dehler Park, they won in extra innings, beating the Mustangs 7-5. That game ended on a dramatic play, as Reniel Ozuna hit into a game ending double play. Today might have been more dramatic, as with the Chukars up a run in the bottom of the tenth, Billings had the tying run at second. Victor Ruiz singled to right with two outs, but Juan Carlos Negret fired a perfect throw to the plate, nailing runner Quincy McAfee to end the game. The Chukars won 4-3, and now have a magic number of four to clinch the Northern Division.
The Chukars for the second straight game drew first blood. Negret started the second inning with a single, and got to second on a wild pitch. Isaiah Henry was the hitter when the wild pitch occurred, and he singled into center field, easily scoring Negret to make it 1-0 Chukars.
Henry wasn't done mashing, as with one on and one out in the fourth inning, he blasted a ball to deep right center field, getting out of the yard in the deepest part of the park, making it 3-0 Chukars.
Chukars starter Nathan Webb had blanked the Mustangs in his first appearance of the year, going 4.2 innings of shutout relief against them on June 14th, striking out a career high ten. Today, he was locked in from the get go, retiring the first seven batters he faced. The first base runner he allowed was a one out walk to Cash Case in the third, but Case was immediately erased as McAfee hit into an inning ending double play.
The first hit Webb allowed came in the fourth inning, a one out infield single from Nate Scantlin, and a second runner reach on a two out hit by pitch, but Webb struck out Matt Lloyd swinging to end the inning and keep Billings scoreless.
Billings finally broke through in the seventh, scoring a pair of unearned runs. Eric Yang reached on a two base throwing error from Kember Nacero to start the inning, and scored two batters later on a ground out from Jonathan Willems. Webb walked Edwin Yon, and then allowed a single to Case, ending his day. Brady Cox came on and allowed an RBI single to McAfee, but got Quin Cotton to fly out to left, ending the inning. Webb fired a career high 6.2 innings, allowing two unearned runs on just three hits.
The Mustangs though tied the game in the eighth inning, as a Nate Scantlin leadoff single scored on a Yang sacrifice fly. Matt Lloyd doubled with two outs, putting the go ahead run in scoring position, but Cox got Willems to fly out to center and keep the game tied.
Neither team got a base runner in the ninth, so the game went to extra innings, with a runner starting at second base. The runner was Henry, and was sacrificed to third by Ismaldo Rodriguez. Wyatt Mascarella then hit a deep fly to right, easily plating Henry.
In the bottom of the tenth, McAfee started at second, with Cotton as the first hitter, facing Jose Ramirez. Cotton tried to bunt McAfee to third, but couldn't get the bunt down and eventually struck out. Scantlin flew out to shallow center, setting up the final battle of the game. Ruiz lined a sharp single to right, but Negret, who was playing shallow, got to the ball right away. He gunned a perfect throw home, and Mascarella applied the tag before McAfee cross home, ending the game.
The Chukars now head west to Missoula, starting the first of three tomorrow night at 7:05 PM. You can listen to the broadcast on ESPN 980 The Sports Zone KSPZ or online via the TuneIn App.
