Chance at first half title slips away as Chukars lose 4-1 to Ogden

The Idaho Falls Chukars lost a shot to win the Pioneer League South Division first half title Friday by losing 4-1 to the Ogden Raptors at Melaleuca Field.

Ogden (23-13) secured the first half crown with the win. The Chukars (19-15) needed to sweep the three-game home series from Ogden, but the Chukars were mathematically eliminated by losing the series opener.
Ogden secured a berth in the playoffs by winning the first-half title. The Chukars can advance by winning the second half title. Or, if Ogden repeats as second half champion, the Chukars can advance by finishing with the second-best complete-season record in the four-team division.

Ogden took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI sacrifice fly by Brian Cavazos-Galvez and an RBI double by Gorman Erickson. After giving up three hits in the first, Chukars starter John Lamb settled down, striking out the side in the second.

As it turned out, a two run head start was all Ogden needed.

Three Ogden hitters held the Chukars to five hits. Ogden issued five walks but allowed one or zero baserunners in seven innings.

The lone Chukars run came when Salvador Perez scored Franco on a groundout in the third.

That inning was one of several squandered opportunities. Following a walk by Angel Franco and a double by Carlo Testa, the Chukars had runners on the corners with only one out. But Perez grounded out, and Tito Espinosa struck out to end the inning.

In the first inning, the Chukars made use of two walks, a single and a hit batter to load the bases. But Franco was caught stealing, giving away the second out, and Allen Caldwell struck out to kill the threat.

Luck was against the Chukars in the eighth. Down three runs, the Chukars again had runners on the corners with one out. Tito Espinosa, the tying run, fouled off several two-strike pitches, then hit the ball sharply but directly to the Ogden third baseman. The ensuing double play preserved the 4-1 Ogden lead.

The Chukars play Ogden Saturday and Sunday night at 7:15 at Melaleuca Field.