Chukars ride 12-run inning, big games from Trimble and Canton to victory

IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls Chukars made it two home wins in a row Tuesday, beating the Great Falls Voyagers in a slugfest.

Justin Trimble, Tyler Wyatt and Wesley Mitchell each homered for the Chukars (6-24), while Sam Canton came a homer shy of the cycle in a 19-4 victory over the Voyagers (12-19) at Melaleuca Field.

Starter Josh Leerssen (ND, 2-3) lasted just 3-2/3 innings and was tagged with 10 hits and 10 runs, all earned. The right-hander handed the game to the bullpen with Idaho Falls trailing 10-1.

Behind reliever Julian Berenti (W, 1-0), who allowed two runs, one earned, in his 2-1/3 innings of relief work, the Chukars flipped the game on its head with a 12-run fifth.

In the fifth inning alone, Canton drove in four runs, on a sacrifice fly and a three-run triple; Trimble reached twice, on a hit by pitch and a three-run home run; Wyatt hit a solo homer and an RBI single.

Six different Chukar hitters reached base twice in the frame. Three Chukars — Abe Valdez, Ty Dooley and Garret Ostrander — each scored twice in the inning.

Idaho Falls continued adding on, scoring single runs in the sixth and seventh, with a four-run eighth putting things away.

Ryan Inouye (S, 1) took over with one down in the eighth in a 15-14 game, with the tying run at third. The righty reliever escaped the jam with a strikeout and a fly out. Inouye stayed on the mound after the Chukars scored four, finishing the game with a scoreless ninth to earn his first save of the season.

Canton went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBIs. Trimble added three hits, two runs and six RBIs and Drew Stengren added two hits and three RBIs.

The Chukars continue their 12-game homestand Wednesday with their eyes on another win over the Voyagers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

Current PBL standings
1. Long Beach Coast (25-6)
2. Billings Mustangs (24-6)
3. Boise Hawks (19-12)
T4. Modesto Roadsters (18-13)
T4. Ogden Raptors (18-13)
6. Glacier Range Riders (17-14)
7. Missoula PaddleHeads (15-16)
8. Oakland Ballers (14-17)
9. Great Falls Voyagers (12-19)
10. Yuba-Sutter Freebirds (10-21)
11. RedPocket Mobiles (7-24)
12. Idaho Falls Chukars (6-24)