Chukars Corner

The Idaho Falls Chukars outhit, outpitches and outfielded the Billings Mustangs to take a 6-2 win Tuesday at Melaleuca Field.

Billings mustered only four hits off of Chukars pitching. Idaho Falls took a 2-0 lead in the second and never trailed.
Chukars starter John Lamb earned his first win in four starts with the Chukars. Lamb held Billings to one run on three hits in five innings of work. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning.

After getting roughed up for eight runs in his first two starts, Lamb has found success in his last two, surrendering just three runs in 10 innings.

Chukars manager Darryl Kennedy said Lamb’s success is a result of staying ahead of hitters.
“His last two have been really good,” Kennedy said. “He’s getting his feet wet after his first couple outings. He’s starting to pitch like we thought he could.”

Relievers Mitch Hodge, Richard Folmer and Patrick Keating put the game to rest. Aside from a solo homer Tyler Stovall hit off Folmer, the bullpen pitched four hitless innings.

Meanwhile, the Chukars bats roughed up Billings pitching for 14 hits. Some of the usual suspects were at work, as Hilton Richardson and Salvador Perez each had two hits. Richardson also stole a base to remain perfect in 15 attempts this season.

However, the bottom of the order was also in on the action. Julio Aparicio and Alex Llanos, who are batting .203 and .167, respectively, combined to hit 5-for-7 with two RBIs and a walk.

A heads-up play by Aparicio led to a Chukars run in the sixth. With two outs, Richardson hit a soft bouncer between first and second. As Richardson motored toward first to beat out an infield single, Aparicio motored from second and around third to score on what appeared would be a routine, inning-ending groundout.

“That’s the kind of play where you can steal a run,” Kennedy said. “That’s why you run hard all the time. Hilton did a great job. Instead of dogging it, he busted his butt and beat the throw. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t get that run.”

For the second straight night, the Chukars went errorless while the Billings gloves faltered. The Mustangs’ one error doesn’t account for several botched plays, including a routine fly ball that found its way to the grass in right field.