Chukars take thriller 8-7 over Ogden

The Idaho Falls Chukars won a see-saw battle, taking a come-from-behind 8-7 win over the Ogden Raptors Saturday night at Melaleuca Field.

The night saw plenty of excitement.

The lead changed hands four times before the eighth inning.

In the fourth, Ogden cleanup hitter Jerry Sands took exception to a fastball thrown by Chukars starter Nick Wooley. Sands, who is second in the Pioneer League with 11 homers, turned on the pitch and send it arcing high over not only the left field wall, but the left field foul pole. That tied the game at two.

That was exciting.

The Chukars did some damage in the sixth inning. With two runners on, Deivy Batista ran the count full and fouled off a pitch. Then he fouled off four more. On the ninth pitch of the at bat, Batista roped a single between short and third, scoring two runs and pulling the Chukars and tying the game at five. That was exciting.

Allen Caldwell tied the game at 7-7 in the seventh with a 2-RBI single. Then Caldwell tied the game when he raced home from third on a wild pitch.

That was exciting.

Chukars manager Daryll Kennedy lost his mind in the top of the seventh inning. The umpire broke up a mound meeting, and Kennedy took exception to something. Who knows what. The ump gave Kennedy the heave-ho as Kennedy continued to adamantly express his opinion. He felt strongly.

That was exciting.

Then Kennedy kicked dirt on home plate before making the long, slow walk down the first base line to the Chukars clubhouse.

That was exciting too.

In the top of the ninth, Chukars relief pitcher Patrick Keating was handed the task of putting the three hour, 37 minute saga to rest. After striking out Kyle Orr, he surrendered a single to Blake Smith. But catcher Salvador Perez gunned down the thieving-minded Orr at second base, and Keating struck out Bryant Hernandez to earn the win.

And that was exciting.