Talking Chasers' baseball with the Royalman Report

Thanks goes out to Troy Olsen and Michael Engel at the Royalman Report for having me as a guest Sunday night. I had a great time talking Omaha Storm Chasers baseball with them. We spoke about Omaha's playoff run, the 40-man roster, Johnny Giavotella's call up, Mike Montgomery's struggles, who might get called up in September and more. If you missed it, you can listen to it below:



You can also download it here and listen to it later.

Chasers lose a close one, but magic number reduced to two

David Lough was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a BB.
(File photo: Gage Matthews / Kings of Kauffman)

Omaha, Neb. – Round Rock catcher Taylor Teagarden belted two solo home runs, leading the Express past the Storm Chasers 3-2 Tuesday night at Werner Park. The Chasers put the tying run in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings, but were unable to score the equalizer.

“We battled,” said Omaha manager Mike Jirschele after the game about the team the Chasers will face in the playoffs, if they can maintain their lead.

“It was a tough game,” he said. “You know, we play these guys tough all the time – they are up, what now, 10-4 [in the season series] on the year? But if you look at it, I think there was only one game where we got beat by seven, but otherwise, there have been a lot of two-run, one-run games – extra innings. You know, we play them tough. 

“But what hurt us tonight is when we lost Clint [Robinson] and Kila [Ka’aihue] both and you’ve got to put Mertins and Zawadzki in the four and five hole for most of the game. Not that they can’t do the job, but it hurts when you lose those two big boppers.”

Giavotella, Mendoza and Robinson named to All-PCL team

Luis Mendoza is 11-5 with a league-leading 2.15 ERA
(File photo: Lee Warren)

The Omaha Storm Chasers’ storybook inaugural season added another chapter Monday, as the Pacific Coast League named Johnny Giavotella, Luis Mendoza and Clint Robinson to its prestigious 12-member All-PCL Team.

Giavotella, the All-PCL second baseman, batted .338 with nine home runs, 72 RBIs, 34 doubles and 67 runs scored in 110 games with the Storm Chasers this season. He was honored as the league’s All-Star representative at second base and was also named the PCL Player of the Month for June, during which he batted .398 (49-for-123). He was promoted to the Kansas City Royals on August 5.

4-3 Omaha win reduces magic number to three

Clint Robinson is hitting .404 in August.
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – Willy Lebron pitched three scoreless innings of relief, ensuring that Clint Robinson’s go-ahead two-run single would be enough for the Chasers to defeat the Round Rock Express 4-3 Monday night at Werner Park.

After the game, Omaha manager Mike Jirschele spoke about Robinson, who is hitting .404 with 29 RBIs in August.

“He made two outstanding [defensive] plays tonight,” Jirschele said. “Besides that, he’s seeing the ball good – swinging the bat well. He’s on a mission right now and he’s been helping to carry this club.”

The victory reduced the Storm Chasers’ magic number to three with seven games remaining, but Jirschele was quick to point out that the Chasers need to stay focused.

“Memphis has got a good club,” he said. “They could easily win out. So we’ve got to be able to go out and win three more games yet.”

Omaha wins a wild one

Kevin Pucetas tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in relief.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Metairie, LA – Kevin Pucetas was sensational through 4.2 scoreless innings of relief work as Omaha rebounded from a slow start to overtake and then hang on to down New Orleans in a wild 11-10 affair Sunday evening in the last of a five-game series at Zephyr Field. 

The Storm Chasers lifted their record to 76-59, maintained their four-game lead over Memphis with eight to play and reduced their magic number to clinch the division title to four.

Lorenzo Cain’s sacrifice fly drove in Jarrod Dyson three batters into the game but the Zephyrs responded in the home half of the inning with Mike Cervenak’s two-out, two-run home run.

Omaha and Memphis both lose, magic number drops to five

Metairie, LA – Alex Romero had four hits, scored a run and drove in a run as New Orleans held off Omaha, 6-3, Saturday evening in the fourth of a five-game series at Zephyr Field. The Storm Chasers fell to 75-59, but maintained their four-game lead over Memphis, since they lost as well, in the PCL American North. The Chaser's magic number dropped to five.

 Trailing 6-3, the Chasers two last-gasp efforts failed when they put runners at second and third with nobody out in the eighth but could not score, as Dan Jennings got Clint Robinson to fly out before striking out Kila Ka’aihue and retiring Irving Falu on a ground out. Victor Garate was called on with runners at the corners and two out in the ninth and got David Lough to fly out to end the game and secure the hosts second win of the series.

Jorge Padilla and Joe Thurston opened the home first with back-to-back doubles to produce the game’s first run against Omaha starter Jeff Suppan, who avoided further damage by stranding Thurston at third with one out.

New Orleans expanded its lead to 4-0 in the fifth on a run-scoring base hit by Padilla, a former Omaha outfielder, and a two-run double from Vinny Rottino. Omaha started its comeback in the next half inning as the middle of the order rallied for three runs with two out against New Orleans starter Tom Koehler, who lasted 5.2 innings to pick up his 11th win of the season.

Chasers trounce the Zephyrs, trim magic number to six

Joaquin Arias was 3-for-5 with a home run and 3 RBIs
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Metairie, LA – Joaquin Arias collected three hits, scored three times and blasted a three-run homer as Omaha rolled over New Orleans, 14-1, Friday night in the middle contest of a five-game series at Zephyr Field.

The Storm Chasers improved to 75-58, pushed their lead over Memphis back to four games and trimmed their magic number to six to clinch their first division title since 1999.

Clint Robinson started the second inning with a single, moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on Irving Falu’s one-out base hit to get the Chasers on the board. Matt Dominguez led off the home half of the inning with a home run, his 12th of the season and fifth against Omaha. The long ball ended a stretch of 61 innings for Omaha starter Luis Mendoza since he had last yielded a home run on June 28 to Andrew Brown of Memphis.

Omaha drops second game of series in New Orleans

Clint Robinson was 4-for-4 with a home run and is
hitting .405 over his last ten games.
(File photo: Lee Warren)

Metairie, LA – Elih Villanueva was strong through seven innings and two big rallies were too much for Omaha to overcome in an 8-2 defeat at the hands of New Orleans Thursday night in the second of a five-game series at Zephyr Field. 

The Storm Chasers dipped to 74-58, lost a six-game road win streak and saw their magic number to clinch their first playoff berth in 12 years remain at eight.

Omaha broke through in the fourth inning with the game’s first run on a base hit by Clint Robinson that scored Lorenzo Cain, who had singled and advanced to second base on an error. However, the lead didn’t last long, as the hosts posted four runs in their half of the inning.

Falu drives in three in Chasers win

Irving Falu's bases loaded double in the first inning
gave Vin Mazzaro all the run support he needed.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Metairie, LA – Vin Mazzaro was solid for six innings on the mound and Irving Falu delivered the game’s biggest hit as Omaha opened a five-game series with a 4-1 rain-shortened win over New Orleans at Zephyr Field.

The Storm Chasers improved to 74-57 and reduced their magic number to clinch their first division title since 1999 to eight.

The game was called after a 35-minute delay with two outs, nobody on and Zach Miner pitching to Chris Coghlan in the home seventh. Miner picked up his first save of the season.

Omaha loaded the bases with three singles in the first inning before Kila Ka’aihue popped out for the second out of the inning. However, Falu followed with a double that cleared the bases and staked the Chasers to a 3-0 lead. Falu has driven in 13 runs this month – which is more than he has driven in during any other month this season. He’s also hitting .400 (16-for-40) over his past ten games.

O'Sullivan wins his sixth straight start

Sean O'Sullivan won his sixth straight start on Tuesday.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – After an embarrassing defensive performance last night, in which the Storm Chasers committed six errors, Omaha manager Mike Jirschele tweaked the defense and Sean O’Sullivan pitched a gem en route to a 5-2 Omaha win over Nashville on Tuesday night.

Second place Memphis won as well, so Omaha maintained its four-game lead in the PCL American North. The loss moved the Sounds to 7.5 games back.

After the game on Monday, Jirschele said he would make some adjustments to the defense. The adjustments included moving Irving Falu from second base to shortstop (replacing Yamaico Navarro who committed two errors) and putting Kila Ka’aihue back at first base, replacing Clint Robinson (who committed two errors).

Omaha unable to overcome six errors

Omaha starter Jeff Suppan allowed one earned
run in 6.1 innings pitched, giving up six hits
and one walk to go with one strikeout.
(Photo: Brad Williams Photography)

 

Omaha, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers dropped a 7-3, 11-inning decision to Nashville Monday evening at Werner Park – a game marred by six Chasers errors that aided six of the Sounds seven runs. Omaha was unable to capitalize on a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth that sent the game to extras, remaining winless at Werner Park when trailing after eight innings.

Before the game reached extra innings, the Chasers were able to forge a tie with two out in the ninth thanks to some patience at the plate and a clutch base hit.

With David Lough aboard at third and two men already out, Clint Robinson coaxed a free pass from reliever Donovan Hand, followed by an infield single by Kila Ka’aihue to score Lough and bring the Chasers to within a run at 3-2. After Irving Falu worked a six-pitch walk to load the bases, Yamaico Navarro smashed a grounder past a diving Eric Farris at second base. Pinch-runner Joaquin Arias scored easily, but rightfielder Caleb Gindl’s throw home was on the money to gun down pinch-runner Kurt Mertins, ending the ninth with a 3-3 score. It was one of two innings in which the Chasers made the third out on the basepaths.

Luis Mendoza named PCL Pitcher of the Week

Omaha, Neb. – The Pacific Coast League has named Luis Mendoza its Pitcher of the Week for August 15-21, the league office announced Monday. The 6-foot-3 righthander went 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings pitched, defeating the Tacoma Rainiers Tuesday and the Nashville Sounds Sunday.

On August 16 at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, the Veracruz, Mexico native held the Rainiers to two runs on five hits over six innings, walking two while striking out five in a 3-2 Storm Chasers win. Five days later, he held the Sounds to one run (unearned) on five hits in seven innings of work, helping Omaha to a 5-3 victory. The win was his first of the season at Werner Park.

Mendoza picks up his first win at home

Luis Mendoza has compiled a 1.23 ERA
over his last 102.2 innings pitched.
(Photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – Storm Chasers ace righthander Luis Mendoza has been the Pacific Coast League’s premier pitcher for most of the 2011 season, but despite all the accomplishments he had yet to taste victory at home – until Sunday. Clint Robinson gave Mendoza all the offense he would need, driving in four runs during the Chasers’ 5-3 win over Nashville in front of 8,034 fans at Werner Park.

Mendoza (10-5), who lowered his ERA to 2.18, held the hot-hitting Nashville Sounds to an unearned run on five hits over seven innings, walking one and striking out one. He threw 62 of his 99 pitches for strikes, improving to 1-4 at Werner Park. Since May 26th, Mendoza has compiled a 1.23 ERA over 102.2 innings pitched.

The Chasers got on the board in the first inning, after Lorenzo Cain reached on a two-out walk and moved into scoring position on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt. Robinson, batting fourth, lined a ball over the head of rightfielder Caleb Gindl for an RBI double, his 32nd double of the season and eighth since August 9.

Sounds turn triple play in 4-1 win over Omaha

Mike Montgomery gave up four runs in the first inning,
but settled down after that and kept the Sounds off the
board. (Photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – The Nashville Sounds scored four times in the top of the first inning and held on from there, knocking off the Storm Chasers 4-1 in front of a full house of 9,023 fans Saturday night at Werner Park. An RBI double by Taylor Green, a sacrifice fly by Mat Gamel and a two-run double by Caleb Gindl – all lefthanded hitters – proved the difference against Omaha southpaw Mike Montgomery.

Montgomery (5-8) wound up working six scoreless innings after the troublesome first, allowing just two hits and a walk the rest of the way. He struck out six batters, throwing 74 of his 109 pitches for strikes. The Chasers were unable to provide much offense, however, stranding 12 runners on base and squandering numerous scoring opportunities.

“We had our chances,” Jirschele said after the game. “I mean, we had nine hits and we got ourselves in some situations where we were one hit away from scoring some runs. We just couldn’t get that big hit. It was just one of those nights.

“Then, after Robinson hits that ball to center and it bounces off the guy’s head and they get a triple play, I thought, this isn’t our night.”

Why not give Jirschele a playoff caliber roster?

Johnny Giavotella hit .338 with 9 HR and 72 RBIs
in 110 games for Omaha this season.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

The Omaha Storm Chasers are poised to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999 – the team’s second year in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). 

They currently lead the PCL American North Division by five games with 17 games remaining in the regular season. And of those remaining 17 games, 12 are against NL affiliates (Omaha is 61-38 against those teams) and just five are against American League affiliates (Omaha is 10-17 against those teams).

But the truth is, with the latest round of call ups that included Salvador Perez and Johnny Giavotella, the Chasers lineup is extremely thin with guys like Lance Zawadzki (.242 average), Joaquin Arias (.212 average) and Kurt Mertins (.242 average) seeing so much playing time. Yamaico Navarro (.196 avearge) is not exactly tearing up the PCL either.

Cain's ninth inning double lifts Chasers to fifth straight win

Lorenzo Cain's two-run double in the ninth lifted
Omaha to its fifth straight win
(File Photo: Gage Matthews / Kings of Kauffman)

Tacoma, Wash. – Lorenzo Cain’s two-run double in the ninth inning helped Omaha steal away with a 3-1 win over Tacoma Friday night to complete a four-game series sweep at Cheney Stadium.

The Storm Chasers won their fifth straight to finish an eight-game road trip with six wins and a five-game lead over Memphis in the PCL American North with just 17 games remaining.

Clint Robinson led off the second inning with an opposite field home run to left, his 20th of the season, to give the visitors the early lead before Michael Saunders doubled home Mike Wilson in the home fourth to even the count.

Omaha wins fourth straight, maintains five-game lead

Clint Robinson is 18-for-his-last-38 (.474 average). He
picked up three more hits Thursday night in Tacoma.
(Photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Tacoma, Wash. – Clint Robinson collected three hits and drove in three runs to lead a balanced attack in Omaha’s 7-4 win over Tacoma Thursday night in the third of a four-game series at Cheney Stadium.

The Storm Chasers won their fourth in a row to improve to 70-55 and maintain their five-game lead over Memphis in the PCL American North.

Jarrod Dyson walked and Irving Falu bunted for a base hit to start the game against Tacoma southpaw Chris Seddon. The speedy duo then pulled off a double steal and came in to score on a Robinson single.

Robinson singled with two outs in the third and scored to make it a 3-0 contest on a Kila Ka’aihue double. The Rainiers, who had been held to a combined four runs in the first two games of the series, equaled that output with one swing in the fourth.

Navarro’s 9th inning home run gives Chasers another win

Yamaico Navarro blasted a three-run home run
to give Omaha a 4-2 win at Tacoma
(File photo: Lee Warren)

Tacoma, Wash. – Yamaico Navarro’s three-run home run in the ninth inning lifted Omaha to a 4-2 come-from-behind win over Tacoma Wednesday night in the second of a four-game series at Cheney Stadium.

The Storm Chasers improved to 69-55 and lengthened their lead to five games over Memphis in the PCL American North with just 19 regular season games left to play.

Trailing 2-1 after Tacoma had scored in the home eighth, the Chasers got back-to-back singles from Irving Falu and Lorenzo Cain to begin the decisive inning. Rainiers reliever Scott Patterson battled back to strike out Clint Robinson and Kila Ka’aihue and was one strike away from doing the same to Navarro before the shortstop drilled a line drive that cleared the left field wall to dramatically alter the contest with his first three runs driven in wearing an Omaha uniform.

Chavez, Chasers close out Rainiers

Jesse Chavez picked up his 15th
save of the season Tuesday night
(Photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Tacoma, Wash. – Storm Chasers reliever Jesse Chavez hadn’t been called upon to record a save since August 3, but he came out of the bullpen firing, picking up his team-leading 15th save Tuesday night at Cheney Stadium.

Chavez entered with two men on and one out in the eighth and recorded all five of the remaining outs via the strike out, preserving Omaha’s 3-2 victory over the Tacoma Rainiers.

Second place Memphis picked up their fourth win in a row, keeping the pressure on the Chasers to win if they want to keep their 4.0 game lead in the PCL American North. The Chasers are 6-4 in their last 10 games (compared to Memphis, who is 7-3), which isn’t bad for a team that has been decimated by big league call ups and nagging injuries. By the way, the Chasers announced that playoff ticket packages are now on sale.

Starting pitcher Luis Mendoza (9-5), who missed a start with a “tired” arm, earned the victory on Tuesday, allowing two runs on five hits over six innings of work. He walked two and struck out five, using 88 pitches. Mendoza improved to 7-0 in nine road starts this season and 9-1 on the road overall, despite seeing his ERA rise to a still-league best 2.30. He has 10 quality starts in his last 13 outings.

Four-run ninth propels Omaha to victory

Kila Ka'aihue's ninth inning home run moved him
into fifth place on the franchise's all-time list
(File photo: Lee Warren) 

Salt Lake City, UT – Kila Ka’aihue’s two-run home run finished off a four-run ninth inning that propelled Omaha to a 9-6 win over Salt Lake Monday night in the last of a four-game series at Spring Mobile Ballpark. The Storm Chasers improved to 67-55 and held on to their four-game lead over victorious Memphis in the PCL American North.

Joaquin Arias opened the decisive inning with a walk, but was thrown out at second base on Jarrod Dyson’s attempted sacrifice bunt. Irving Falu, who was 4-for-4, was hit by a pitch and the runners then pulled off a double steal. In a 5-5 game against a drawn-in infield, Dyson scored the go-ahead run on a Lorenzo Cain ground out before Clint Robinson’s single pushed Falu across with an insurance run. Ka’aihue followed with his long ball, the 62nd of his career with Omaha to move him into fifth place on the franchise’s all-time list, to sew up the victory.

Bees win in walk-off fashion

Salt Lake City, UT – Freddy Sandoval belted a lead off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Salt Lake to a 2-1 triumph over Omaha Sunday evening in the third of a four-game series at Spring Mobile Ballpark. The Storm Chasers dipped to 66-55 and saw their lead in the PCL American North sliced to four games over now-second place Memphis, which shut out Tucson earlier in the day.

The Bees pushed across the game's first run in the first inning on Jeff Baisley's run-scoring hit but couldn't add to their lead with runners at the corners and nobody out in the second . Jarrod Dyson's lead off long ball, his second in as many days, got the game even in the fourth and gave him eight hits in 12 at-bats to that point in the series.

Omaha starter Vin Mazzaro yielded just a lone run on seven hits and matched a season-high with 10 strikeouts but was not involved the decision. He was removed after a two-out walk to Alexi Amarista, his third of the game, with two outs in the seventh before Zach Miner came on to record the final out of the inning.

Chasers feast on Salt Lake pitching

Salt Lake City, UT – Jarrod Dyson and Lance Zawadzki hit home runs in support of six sharp innings from Sean O’Sullivan as Omaha downed Salt Lake, 11-6, Saturday night in the second of a four-game series at Spring Mobile Ballpark. The Storm Chasers improved to 66-54 and maintained their 4.5 game edge on Nashville and a 5.0 game cushion on Memphis in the PCL American North.

The Chasers jumped on Salt Lake starter Trevor Bell for four runs in the first inning on Clint Robinson’s run-scoring double and Irving Falu’s bases loaded triple. The right-hander needed 46 pitches to get through the inning, during which he faced all nine hitters.

Salt Lake cut the lead in half in the third on RBI hits by Alexi Amarista and Jeff Baisley before Omaha got the runs right back in the fourth. Dyson, who went 4-for-6 with two steals, led off with his first home run of the season and Manny Pina drove in a run with a base hit later in the inning to push the margin back to four.

Suppan loses second game since early May

Clint Robinson was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored
(File photo: Lee Warren)

Salt Lake City, UT – Ronald “Bear” Bay worked seven solid innings and received home run support from Efren Navarro and Paul McAnulty in Salt Lake’s 6-2 victory over Omaha Friday night in the opener of a four-game series at Spring Mobile Ballpark. 

The Storm Chasers dropped to 65-54 and saw their lead in the PCL American North sliced to 4.5 games over now-second place Nashville.

Gil Velazquez’s RBI single, a solo home run by Navarro and a sacrifice fly to center by Alexi Amarista gave the Bees a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

Chasers hang on for 7-6 win

Lorenzo Cain belted his career
high 15th home run of the season
(Photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. — The Storm Chasers jumped out to an early five-run lead against the Fresno Grizzlies, ultimately hanging on for a 7-6 victory Wednesday afternoon at Werner Park. The Chasers improved to 11-2 in games while trailing 2-1 in a series.

Down 2-1 entering the third inning, Cody Clark lead off with a bloop single and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jarrod Dyson, with Dyson reaching safely on an error. David Lough followed with a bunt single – which resulted in yet another error, allowing Clark to score from second to make it 2-2.

After Lorenzo Cain – who homered in the first inning – was hit by a pitch, Clint Robinson ripped a two-run double to make it 4-2 Chasers. Kila Ka’aihue then stepped to the plate and belted his eighth home run of the season and third in his past five games, making it a 7-2 ballgame in favor of Omaha.

The Grizzlies clawed their way back into the game. They picked up two runs in the fourth inning on a double by third baseman Edgar Gonazalez to pull within three runs.

Broken bat ground out pushes Fresno past Omaha

Jarrod Dyson made a great defensive play in addition
to going 3-for-5 with a triple. (Photo: Corey O'Malley)

Omaha, Neb. – Just when it looked like the Omaha Storm Chasers might storm from behind to win Tuesday night, Brett Pill hit a broken bat ground out to short in the tenth inning that scored a run, giving the Fresno Grizzlies a 4-3 lead and that score held up. The ball was hit too slowly for Omaha shortstop Yamaico Navarro to turn a double play, so he had to go to first.

“He made a good pitch,” Jirschele said after the game, speaking about reliever Brandon Sisk facing Pill in the tenth inning. “It was just too good a pitch. He should have hit it a little firmer.”

The Chasers found themselves down 3-0 in the middle innings. Brandon Crawford hammered a 1-1 offering from Omaha starter Vin Mazarro over the right field wall in the fourth inning. Later in the inning, Justin Christian and Edgar Gonzalez both drove in a run with singles.

Chasers defeat Fresno with three-run third inning

Joaquin Arias was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple
(File photo: Brad Williams / Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – Four successive hits in the third inning by Joaquin Arias, Jarrod Dyson, David Lough and Lorenzo Cain off Fresno starter Shane Loux produced three runs and the Omaha Storm Chasers went on to win 4-2 in front of 6,812 fans at Werner Park Monday night.

“I thought we swung better tonight,” said Omaha manager Mike Jirschele after the game. “There were a few times when we had a chance to tack on a few and we just couldn’t get that big hit, but we kept going and we scored enough to win.”

Sean O’Sullivan picked up his fifth win of the season and lowered his ERA to 3.22, giving up nine hits on two earned runs and one walk. He struck out four and gave up one home run – an opposite field solo shot to right field by Fresno first baseman Brett Pill.

Sloppy defense by Omaha leads to Fresno win

David Lough was 1-for-4 with 2 RBIs
(File photo: Lee Warren)

Omaha, Neb. – The Fresno Grizzlies took advantage of a pair of Omaha errors during a six-run second inning, coasting to a 7-3 victory over the Storm Chasers Sunday evening at Werner Park. The Chasers quickly cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third, but were held scoreless over the final six innings.

Second place Memphis picked up a game on the Chasers with a win on Sunday, moving to within five games of Omaha.

The top of the second got off to an ominous start on Sunday, as starting and losing pitcher Luis Mendoza couldn’t corral a Brett Pill one hopper back to the mound for an error. Following a single and a walk, Brandon Crawford chopped a ball up the first base line to Mendoza, whose throw to Clint Robinson glanced off Robinson’s glove for an error, scoring two. The inning spiraled out of control from there, only ending when Brandon Belt was gunned down at the plate to end the inning with the Chasers trailing 6-0.

Perez has big night in Chasers win

Salvador Perez was 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs
(File photo: Brad Williams /
Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – With violent storms whipping across the Omaha metro area Saturday night, the Chasers felt right at home, winning a 7-5 decision over the Sacramento River Cats at Werner Park. The game was delayed two times due to the weather, once with Omaha leading 6-4 in the fifth and again with the Storm Chasers on top 7-5 in the eighth.

The win by the Chasers, coupled with a loss by second place Memphis, gives Omaha a six game lead in the PCL American North. The Chasers are now 63-51 and they are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Jeff Suppan (11-5) eventually earned the win in this one, as the 36-year-old righthander completed five innings of work just before the first storm hit. The 11 victories move him into a first-place tie for most wins in the league this season, matching Albuquerque’s Dana Eveland and Sacramento’s Graham Godfrey. He allowed four runs on four hits, walked two and struck out three in the game.

Catcher Salvador Perez, 15 years Suppan’s junior, was the hitting star for the Chasers in the ballgame. He ripped a pair of RBI doubles in the first three innings, giving him three runs batted in on the night and 10 in his short time in a Storm Chasers’ uniform. His second-inning double scored new shortstop Yamaico Navarro, who arrived in Omaha just three hours prior to first pitch. Navarro went 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.

River Cats squeak by the Chasers

Cody Clark was 2-for-3 with an RBI
(File photo: Lee Warren)

Graham Godfrey and the Sacramento River Cats shut down the Omaha Storm Chasers 2-1 Friday night, in front of a nearly-full house of 8,871 fans at Werner Park. The River Cats have claimed two of the first three games of the four-game series, with all three games decided by a single run.

Thanks to strong performances by winning pitcher Graham Godfrey (11-2) and Omaha’s Mike Montgomery (4-7), the difference in the ballgame turned out to be a pair of ground balls down the first base line, one by each team.

In the top of the second, Adrian Cardenas turned on a pitch from Montgomery and snuck it past a diving Clint Robinson for a double, scoring Michael Taylor with the game’s first run. Later, with the River Cats up 2-1 in the seventh, Omaha’s Jarrod Dyson came to the plate with runners on first and second and hit a similar ground ball toward the line that looked to be enough for the game-tying hit. But 6-foot-4 first baseman Chris Carter smothered it with a sprawling dive and was able to flip to pitcher Vinnie Chulk for the out, squashing the rally.

Here comes Johnny

Johnny Giavotella
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

An hour after the Omaha Storm Chasers lost to the Sacramento River Cats Thursday night, most of the lights at Werner Park were dim. A couple of players milled around in the clubhouse, just about to head home for the evening.

Johnny Giavotella was seated at a table in the clubhouse, trying to eat a late dinner, but his phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. And he still had a goodbye or two he wanted to say.

The craziness started when manager Mike Jirschele called Giavotella into his office after the game.

“He called me in there and I kind of had some chills at first, I didn’t know what to expect,” Giavotella said. “He asked me if I wanted to work on some double plays tomorrow here at the field. And I was like, ‘Yeah, you know, whatever you want.’ And he said, ‘Or would you like to go to the big leagues?’

“I was taken aback by it. You know, it was a dream come true. I had to sit down just to gather it all in.”

River Cats even the series on a three-run home run

David Lough was 2-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBIs
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

The music group 33 Miles will be performing Saturday night after the game at Werner Park, but the number 33 wasn’t kind to the Omaha Storm Chasers Thursday night.

After a 33 minute rain delay in the fifth inning, Omaha manager Mike Jirschele decided to put starting pitcher Vin Mazzaro back on the mound and he gave up a three-run home run to Jermaine Mitchell, the first batter he saw, giving the River Cats a 4-3 lead.

That turned out to be the final score.

Does Jirschele regret putting Mazzaro back on the mound?

“He made one pitch – he didn’t locate it where he wanted to,” Jirschele said after the game. “But he ended getting through that and going another one [inning]. We had to look for him to hopefully get another inning or two and the rain delay wasn’t too long to where he couldn’t come back.

Storm Chasers overcome four errors to win sixth straight

Clint Robinson hit a two-run home run in the forth inning.
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers extended their winning streak to six games Wednesday night, defeating the Sacramento River Cats 3-2, thanks to a two-run home run in the fourth inning by Clint Robinson and strong efforts from starting pitcher Sean O'Sullivan, and relievers Kelvin Herrera and Jesse Chavez, who were able to keep the River Cats from scoring over the final three innings.

The win guarantees that Omaha will maintain their five game lead in the PCL American North, with an opportunity to stretch it to six games if Memphis loses in Reno.

The Chasers didn’t make it easy on themselves. They committed four errors – three of which were by shortstop Lance Zawadzki (two throwing and one fielding) in the third inning – and left runners in scoring position twice with less than two outs, but were unable to get them home. Throw in the fact that the River Cats are full of mashers and Omaha manager Mike Jirschele was just happy to escape with the win.

Omaha sweeps the RedHawks, wins fifth in a row

Kila Ka'aihue hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning.
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Oklahoma City, OK – Luis Mendoza worked six strong innings in Omaha's 13-2 victory over Oklahoma City Tuesday night in the last of a four game series at Bricktown Ballpark.

The Storm Chasers won their fifth in a row to improve to a season best 12 games over .500 at 61-49 and they maintained their five game lead over Memphis in the PCL American North.

David Lough's lead off long ball in the fourth broke up a scoreless game and triggered a five-run rally. Irving Falu added a sacrifice fly before Lance Zawadzki tripled in two runs and scored on a Joaquin Arias base hit.

Chasers win fourth in a row behind strong pitching

Jeff Suppan won his 10th game of
the season. (File photo: Lee Warren)

Oklahoma City, OK – The Omaha Storm Chasers managed just two runs against Oklahoma City pitching Monday night at Bricktown Ballpark, but that was all they needed because Omaha starter Jeff Suppan and reliever Kevin Pucetas tossed a six-hit shutout.

The 2-0 Chasers win, their fourth win in a row, means the Chasers remain 5.0 games up on the second place Memphis Redbirds, who won at home tonight against Iowa, in the PCL American North.

One of the Chasers runs came on a controversial fielder’s choice in the second inning. With one out and Kila Ka’aihue at third base, Jarrod Dyson hit a chopper up the third base line. Oklahoma City starter Lucas Harrell fielded the ball and attempted to tag Ka’aihue but he appeared to tag him with his glove while the ball was in his other hand. Home plate umpire Brett Robson called Ka’aihue safe at home. Harrell argued and Robson ejected him. It was a controversial play all the way around because Dyson should have been credited with a hit on the play since he would have beat the throw to first base.

The Chasers picked up another run later in the inning on a sacrifice fly to center field by Johnny Giavotella. Salvador Perez scored on the play.

Giavotella drives in four in Chasers rout

Johnny Giavotella, shown here helping Jeff Suppan
warm up earlier this season, went 5-for-6 with 4 RBIs.
(Photo: Gage Matthews / Kings of Kauffman)

Oklahoma City, OK – Johnny Giavotella collected five hits and drove in four runs to back a solid outing from Mike Montgomery as Omaha raced out to a huge early lead en route to a 12-3 decision over Oklahoma City Sunday afternoon in the second of a four-game series at Bricktown Ballpark.

The Storm Chasers won their third straight game to improve to 59-49 and remain five games up on the Memphis Redbirds in the PCL American North.

Lorenzo Cain’s two-run home run, his career-high 13th, staked the Chasers to a 2-0 lead in the first inning that held up after Montgomery stranded runners at second and third with one out in the bottom half of the inning.