Chukars’ Reyes battles through 6 but offense silenced in loss

IDAHO FALLS — The Oakland Ballers, aided by a brace of free passes to commencement nan inning, plated 4 runs successful nan second, and starter Zach Saint Pierre made nan outburst guidelines up successful a 5-1 triumph complete nan Chukars Wednesday nighttime astatine Melaleuca Field.

Idaho Falls starter Caleb Reyes worked astir a two-out azygous successful nan first inning, but was doomed by bid issues successful nan second.

Reyes deed Oakland DH Tripp Clark pinch a 3-2 transportation to commencement nan frame, past walked correct fielder Brett Carson earlier giving up back-to-back run-scoring hits. He told EastIdahoNews.com that he has been battling a mechanical rumor for respective weeks.

“I haven’t felt for illustration myself recently, truthful coming was each astir making a comeback and getting immoderate scoreless innings,” he said.

Aside from nan second, Reyes was happy pinch his performance, giving his nine 6 beardown innings while limiting nan Oakland harm to their 4 second-inning runs. The 4 scoreless frames Reyes tossed to decorativeness his nighttime is thing he said he will look to proceed into his adjacent start.

“I’m decidedly happy pinch nan results those past 4 (innings) — it’s thing to build on,” he said.

Chukars head Troy Percival said Reyes allowed nan crippled to velocity up connected him. The erstwhile Major League All-Star said he could spot his starter’s breathing “got rapid” and his attack became visibly rushed.

“He calmed backmost down and I thought he did a really bully occupation getting done 6,” Percival said.

Caleb Reyes | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

The problem Wednesday was not Reyes’ second-inning hiccup, according to Percival, it was Saint Pierre — specifically, nan Oakland righty’s changeup.

“He had bid of his changeup,” nan skipper said. “He threw conscionable capable fastball to support america disconnected of (the changeup) — not galore guys tin propulsion that galore changeups for strikes. We didn’t do a very bully occupation of adjusting to it.”

Saint Pierre lasted 6-2/3 innings, holding nan Chukars discourtesy to 1 tally connected 4 hits. Still, location was, again, a affirmative to return away. Despite his keeping nan Idaho Falls hitters disconnected equilibrium pinch his off-speed weapon, Saint Pierre struck retired conscionable three.

Percival said that his hitters battled good to put nan shot successful play, but would person liked to spot much than nan soft grounders and anemic alert balls nan bats provided.

“I’d for illustration to spot america person a amended attack astatine nan plate,” he said. “It’s a small frustrating that we could’t beryllium connected an off-speed pitch, which you person to do sometimes erstwhile a guy’s throwing predominantly off-speed. We conscionable stayed connected fastball, stayed connected fastball and it showed.”

The Chukars person dropped six of their past 7 are are presently successful ninth spot successful nan Pioneer Baseball League second-half standings (8-12) — 10th wide (28-40).

They will big nan ballers for crippled 3 of a six-game group Thursday nighttime astatine Melaleuca Field. First transportation is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.