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.

At times, O’Sullivan relied heavily on his breaking stuff and several Fresno hitters were able to pick up blooper base hits the opposite way.

“A few of those bloopers though are pitches that are just up a little bit, and that’s what happens,” Jirschele said. “They get just enough to get it beyond the infield, and before the outfield. He’s got to keep the ball down. Early on, he struggled a little bit with his command, but I thought as the game went on, he pitched better.”

The Chasers scored their fourth run of the game in the bottom of the sixth when Joaquin Arias tripled in Salvador Perez on a ball that Fresno right fielder Brandon Belt appeared to lose in the lights. He didn’t even make a play on the ball. It landed fair by a couple of feet.

Salvador Perez was 2-for-4 with a single and a double. Jirschele said he likes his approach as of late.

“He’s starting to stay back on off-speed stuff, and that’s a good sign that he’s getting comfortable here,” Jirschele said. “You know, he can hit the fastball – there’s no doubt about that, and he’s done a much better job on off-speed pitches too.”

Zach Miner pitched an inning of scoreless relief, picking up his first hold of the season. And Kelvin Herrera pitched a scoreless ninth inning, earning his first save for Omaha. Jirschele said Jesse Chavez, who has 14 saves this season, has been out a couple of days with back spasms, so he went with Herrera.

The two teams have split the first two games of the four game series. Tomorrow night, Vin Mazzaro (5-2, 5.04) will take the mound for Omaha. He’ll go up against LHP Matt Yourkin (8-6, 4.85).

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Jirschele says Kila Ka’aihue will probably be back in the lineup on Wednesday. He’s been nursing a sore shoulder and elbow and has been out of the lineup since August 2 after a collision at first base in Oklahoma City.