Omaha scores five in the ninth for improbable win

David Lough delivered the game-winning
sacrificy fly in the ninth inning
(Photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Metairie, LA – David Lough delivered the game-winning run with a sacrifice fly to finish off a five-run ninth inning rally as Omaha came back to fashion an improbable 6-5 victory over New Orleans Tuesday night in the middle contest of a three-game set at Zephyr Field. The Storm Chasers stopped a two-game slide to improve to 47-39 and maintain their hold on first place in the PCL American North.

Trailing 5-1 and held to just three hits entering the ninth, the visitors loaded the bases with nobody out on two hits and an error to chase Mariano Gomez from the hill. Pete Andrelczyk took over and was greeted by a Cody Clark single that knocked in a run and a two-run double by Joaquin Arias that trimmed the deficit to 5-4.

Jarrod Dyson was hit by a pitch to fill the bases before New Orleans native Johnny Giavotella singled home the tying run with his first hit of the series. Lough then followed with a fly ball off Dan Jennings deep enough for Arias to tag from third and score the decisive run. Mike Aviles, who started the game-changing rally with a leadoff double, went 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to 13 games.

Clark's second inning sacrifice fly put the Chasers in the early lead but the home side answered with three in the bottom half of the frame to move in front, 3-1.

Ryan Klosterman and Brad Davis supplied two-out RBI doubles in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively, to expand the New Orleans advantage to four. Omaha starter Vin Mazzaro was tagged with all five runs on 11 hits, though he did strike out eight over his 6.2 innings of work. The Chasers comeback extended his streak of consecutive PCL starts without a loss to 20 games, dating back to May 2009.

Brandon Sisk earned the win with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief and Jeremy Jeffress set down the Zephyrs in the ninth to record his third save.