MISSOULA, Mont. With the help of shortstop Anthony Mata’s bat, starter Gary Grosjean maintained his comeback in the second half and guided the Idaho Falls Chukars to victory.
The Chukars (46-35, 19-15) have recovered from dropping the first two games of a six-game set against the Missoula PaddleHeads (58-24, 25-9), and they are now in a position to win a huge away series.
Grosjean (W, 10-5) has now won the win in three of his previous four starts, limiting the PaddleHeads to eight hits and two earned runs in his seven innings pitched.
Mata gave Idaho Falls a 4-1 lead in the second inning with a three-run blast to left-center, giving him an early advantage. Mata gave his Chukars a 6-2 lead in the sixth inning with an RBI double and a run in the same inning, as the game stayed low-scoring throughout the middle innings.
With just 14 games remaining, the Chukars’ victory keeps them in the running for the playoffs. First pitch is set at 7:05 p.m. on Saturday night when they take on the same PaddleHeads team.
PBL standings for the second half1. The 26–8 Oakland Ballers2. PaddleHeads of Missoula (25-9)3. Raptors of Ogden (20-14)4. Chukars of Idaho Falls (19–15)T5. Mustangs from Billings (17–17)T5. Riders of the Glacier Range (17–17)7. Feelings of a Rocky Mountain (16–18)T8. Voyagers of the Great Falls (14-20)T8. High Wheelers by Yuba-Sutter (14-20)10. Hawks of Boise (13-21)11. Jackalopes of Grand Junction (12–22)12. Sky Sox of Colorado Springs (11-23)
