Chukars stay 4 games back of playoff spot after third straight win

IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls Chukars still need to jump four teams in order to claim a postseason bid, but after a third consecutive win Thursday night, they kept their chances in good order.

The Chukars (19-14, 33-46) stayed perfect during this final homestand of the season, beating the RedPocket Mobiles (1-32, 13-68) 19-8 at Melaleuca Field.

Idaho Falls got another stellar effort from its starter, this time Mason Pennington (W, 4-1, 8.21 ERA), who held the Mobiles to six runs, all earned, across 7 innings of work.

The right-hander was pitching with a lead most of the night, after the Chukar bats scored 11 in the third inning to take a 15-4 advantage.

Ty Dooley, Garret Ostrander and Justin Trimble, the top three batters in the Idaho Falls lineup, scored three runs apiece, with the 4-5-6 hitters, Tyler Wyatt, Drew Stengren and Wes Mitchell crossing the plate two times each.

Wyatt, Mitchell and Emilio Barrera all tallied four RBIs to lead the home team, with Dooley, Mitchell and Barrera homering.

Though they won their game, and closed the gap on the third-place Boise Hawks and Long Beach Coast, who are in a tie for fourth place with the Billings Mustangs, the Chukars did not get any closer to the second-place Missoula PaddleHeads, who beat Long Beach. The Mustangs ran their current wins streak to six.

With 15 games left in the season, the Chuks are four games back of the PaddleHeads in the race for the final playoff spot.

They will look to inch closer Friday night when they continue their six-game series with RedPocket, and 12-game homestand. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

PBL second-half standings

1. Modesto Roadsters 28-5
2. Missoula PaddleHeads 23-10
3. Boise Hawks 21-12
T4. Billings Mustangs 20-13
T4. Long Beach Coast 20-13
6. Idaho Falls Chukars 19-14
7. Oakland Ballers 17-16
8. Ogden Raptors 15-18
9. Great Falls Voyagers 12-21
T10 Glacier Range Riders 11-22
T10. Yuba-Sutter Freebirds 11-22
12. RedPocket Mobiles 1-32