IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Mailon Arroyo hurled a strikeout with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning and his Missoula Osprey leading 7-5. Yet somehow the Idaho Falls Chukars found a way to win and stay perfect on the season.
Arroyo’s strikeout came on a wild pitch. Isaiah Smith hustled to first base to extend the inning. During the next batter with the bases loaded, a passed ball brought the Chukars within one. Then Isaiah Henry singled to right, bringing in two runs and giving Idaho Falls an improbable 8-7 win.
The Chukars improved their unbeaten record to 6-0. The Osprey fell to 2-4 and will return to Missoula for their home opener on Friday.
The two Pioneer League clubs went back and forth all game. Idaho Falls took its biggest lead at 5-3 after four innings. Missoula came back to tie the game in the sixth and scored two more in the seventh to go up 7-5.
Designated hitter Francis Martinez carried the Missoula offense. The slugger from the Dominican Republic went 5-for-5 with two home runs, a double and five RBI. Rhett Aplin also smashed a homer for Idaho Falls, going 2-for-5 with three RBI.
