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.
With the strong week, Mendoza improved upon an already remarkable 2011 campaign. He is 10-5 with a 2.18 ERA, including a 9-2 record with a 1.23 ERA since May 26. He was named to the PCL All-Star squad after posting a 1.05 ERA in the month of June, and has kept it going with a 1.45 ERA since the break. His 2.18 ERA is 0.90 better than any other pitcher in the league.
The 27-year-old is in his 11th professional season and second in the Kansas City system. He began his career as a 17-year-old in the Venezuelan Summer League as a member of the Boston Red Sox organization, before having a breakthrough 2007 season with Double-A Frisco in the Texas Rangers’ system. That year he went 15-4 with a 3.93 ERA for the RoughRiders, earning a call-up to the majors to pitch for the Rangers. He has split time between Triple-A and the big leagues ever since, including a four-game stint in the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen at the beginning of the 2010 campaign.
Mendoza becomes the second Storm Chasers hurler to win a Pitcher of the Week Award during the 2011 season, joining Danny Duffy from April 25-May 1. He is the sixth different Omaha pitcher to be honored by the league since July 19, 2010.
