Tuesday: Riders' bats silent in series opener

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — Gabe Howell drove in both Range Riders runs, while the rest of the lineup was stifled by the Chukars pitching staff en route to their 4-2 victory, Tuesday night.

In the first game of the series at Melaleuca Field, Idaho Falls pitcher Brian Williams held the Range Riders offense to five hits and one earned run over five innings. 

This came on the heels of a Range Riders slugging three home runs on Sunday, when it appeared they were turning a corner offensively. 

Noah Owen started opposite Williams and struggled again in his second start with the team. 

He lasted three innings, allowing nine hits and four earned runs and raising his ERA to 12.79. 

Brady Held was activated off the ineligible list prior to the game and pitched 2 2-3 scoreless innings in relief of Owen. 

Aidan McEvoy and Ricky Tibbett each pitched a scoreless frame, as the bullpen combined for five shutout innings. 

Owen was signed from the Arizona Complex League on Aug. 6 and is one of three new starters for the Range Riders, joining Patrick Wicklander and Jared Engman. 

Range Riders’ Ryan McCarthy had the only extra-base hit for the team when he tripled in the fourth inning and scored on Howell’s sacrifice fly. 

The Chukars’ Ryan McCarthy hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his third of the season, to put his team up 4-1.   

Tuesday was the sixth time in the last seven games that the Range Riders were held to two runs or fewer.