Chukars win fourth straight, stay 4 games back

IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Falls Chukars proved they know how in more ways than one Friday night, relying on pitching and defense to beat the RedPocket Mobiles 6-5 after scoring 58 runs in the first three games of the series.

With the win, their fourth in a row, the Chukars (20-14, 35-47) stayed within four games of a playoff spot while pulling even with Long Beach Coast.

Idaho Falls started their six-game set with the Mobiles (1-33, 13-69) looking for a sweep, and are now just two wins from accomplishing exactly that.

Starter Blayne Hunter (W, 4-3, 7.56 ERA) got the win, allowing 10 hits and four runs, all earned, in 7 innings of work. Hunter Hargett (S, 10, 6.85 ERA) pitched the ninth, allowing three hits, but stranded the tying and go-ahead runs to earn the save. Ryan Inouye walked one in a scoreless eighth.

Center fielder Tyler Wyatt went 1-for-5 with a single and an RBI, extending his PBL-record hitting streak to 38 games.

Right fielder Sam Canton knocked in two runs, while third baseman Emilio Barrera homered and scored twice.

While only scoring six runs, the Chukars, who tallied 12 team hits, got at least one hit from all nine starters. First baseman Justin Trimble recorded three of those hits.

Idaho Falls will host the Mobiles again Saturday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

The Missoula PaddleHeads earned their second win over Long Beach in as many nights, maintaining their three-game cushion over the Billings Mustangs, winners of seven straight, and Boise Hawks, who have lost three in a row. The Chukars are now tied with Coast, just one game behind Billings and Boise.

PBL second-half standings

1. Modesto Roadsters 28-6
2. Missoula PaddleHeads 24-10
T3. Billings Mustangs 21-13
T3. Boise Hawks 21-13
T5. Idaho Falls Chukars 20-14
T5. Long Beach Coast 20-14
7. Oakland Ballers 18-16
8. Ogden Raptors 15-18
T9. Glacier Range Riders 12-22
T9. Great Falls Voyagers 12-22
11. Yuba-Sutter Freebirds 11-22
12. RedPocket Mobiles 1-33