 |
| Clint Robinson drove in the winning run with a double in the eighth inning (File photo: Lee Warren) |
Omaha manager Mike Jirschele said it was a big win for the Chasers, who had lost three games in a row. The Chasers now lead the PCL American North by four games since second place Memphis lost in Round Rock 13-4.
“It’s huge,” Jirschele said after the game. “Right now, if you can play .500 the rest of the way out, you’ve got a chance at winning this division, the way it looks. It’d be nice to put a streak together where you win seven, eight in a row, but I think if we continue to go out and do our thing, I think we’ve got enough fire power to have a chance at winning this division.”
The Chasers struck first when Lorenzo Cain took a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall to give Omaha a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
But starting pitcher Jeff Suppan gave up two home runs – one was a three-run shot by third baseman Joe Becker in the second inning on a 2-2 pitch to left field and the other was a solo shot by outfielder Jay Gibbons in the fifth inning on a 1-2 pitch to right field. Suppan, who gave up the four runs over six innings on eight hits and three walks, was visibly upset on a couple of occasions about what he thought was a small strike zone. Even though he gave up the two home runs, Jirschele was happy with Suppan’s performance.
“I thought Soup did a good job,” Jirschele said. “A couple of pitches hurt him. He’d like to have those pitches back and if he gets them back he probably throws a shutout.”
As is often the case with Suppan, he pitched well enough to keep the Chasers in the game. Omaha scored two runs in the fifth inning on an RBI triple by Johnny Giavotella and a wild pitch by Albuquerque starter John Ely, allowing David Lough to score from third base.
With the Chasers down 4-3 after six innings, Brandon Sisk and Jesse Chavez shut down the Isotopes from there, striking out eight hitters over the final three innings, not allowing any runs. That allowed the Chasers the time they needed to get their offense going.
“He spent a lot of time in big league camp this spring,” Jirschele said. “They all know him and they like throwing to him, so I think that helps a lot.”
*****
But starting pitcher Jeff Suppan gave up two home runs – one was a three-run shot by third baseman Joe Becker in the second inning on a 2-2 pitch to left field and the other was a solo shot by outfielder Jay Gibbons in the fifth inning on a 1-2 pitch to right field. Suppan, who gave up the four runs over six innings on eight hits and three walks, was visibly upset on a couple of occasions about what he thought was a small strike zone. Even though he gave up the two home runs, Jirschele was happy with Suppan’s performance.
“I thought Soup did a good job,” Jirschele said. “A couple of pitches hurt him. He’d like to have those pitches back and if he gets them back he probably throws a shutout.”
As is often the case with Suppan, he pitched well enough to keep the Chasers in the game. Omaha scored two runs in the fifth inning on an RBI triple by Johnny Giavotella and a wild pitch by Albuquerque starter John Ely, allowing David Lough to score from third base.
With the Chasers down 4-3 after six innings, Brandon Sisk and Jesse Chavez shut down the Isotopes from there, striking out eight hitters over the final three innings, not allowing any runs. That allowed the Chasers the time they needed to get their offense going.
Chavez has given up just one earned run over his last 10 appearances coming into the game and has an impressive 0.87 ERA over that stint.
Sisk has given up just two earned runs over his last 10 appearances coming into the game. In his 13 appearances since coming up to Omaha, he has a 1.88 ERA and sometimes looks to be overpowering hitters, even though he only throws 90-91 mph.
“I wouldn’t call him a power pitcher,” Jirschele said. “But I think there’s got to be some deception there because you see a lot of bad swings taken on his fastball. He’s working on his breaking ball and if he can command it, he’s got a chance to pitch in the big leagues.”
Catcher Salvador Perez, 21, made his debut with the Chasers after putting up impressive numbers (9 HR, 43 RBIs with a .283 average in 79 games) in Double-A, NW Arkansas. He went 1-for-4 tonight – his hit was a double. He also picked off a guy at first.
“He did a good job blocking balls,” Jirschele said. “Offensively, he had that big hit for us. He’s going to help us. There’s no doubt about it.”
Sisk has given up just two earned runs over his last 10 appearances coming into the game. In his 13 appearances since coming up to Omaha, he has a 1.88 ERA and sometimes looks to be overpowering hitters, even though he only throws 90-91 mph.
“I wouldn’t call him a power pitcher,” Jirschele said. “But I think there’s got to be some deception there because you see a lot of bad swings taken on his fastball. He’s working on his breaking ball and if he can command it, he’s got a chance to pitch in the big leagues.”
Catcher Salvador Perez, 21, made his debut with the Chasers after putting up impressive numbers (9 HR, 43 RBIs with a .283 average in 79 games) in Double-A, NW Arkansas. He went 1-for-4 tonight – his hit was a double. He also picked off a guy at first.
“He did a good job blocking balls,” Jirschele said. “Offensively, he had that big hit for us. He’s going to help us. There’s no doubt about it.”
Perez was catching a big league veteran in Suppan, which came with its own challenges, but it’s not the first time he has worked with many of these pitchers.
“He spent a lot of time in big league camp this spring,” Jirschele said. “They all know him and they like throwing to him, so I think that helps a lot.”
*****
Johnny Giavotella Watch:
Giavotella was 1-for-4-with an RBI triple, but he made another defensive mistake. In the first inning, with two outs and nobody on base, Jay Gibbons hit a ground ball up the middle that Giavotella fielded cleanly, but believing he needed to hurry, he attempted to make a leaping throw. It was off target and pulled Clint Robinson off the bag. The play was ruled an infield single, but it probably shouldn’t have been. And it is an example of the type of play Giavotella sometimes struggles to make. On Sunday, he bobbled a double play ball and was only able to get the out at first.
Giavotella was 1-for-4-with an RBI triple, but he made another defensive mistake. In the first inning, with two outs and nobody on base, Jay Gibbons hit a ground ball up the middle that Giavotella fielded cleanly, but believing he needed to hurry, he attempted to make a leaping throw. It was off target and pulled Clint Robinson off the bag. The play was ruled an infield single, but it probably shouldn’t have been. And it is an example of the type of play Giavotella sometimes struggles to make. On Sunday, he bobbled a double play ball and was only able to get the out at first.
