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.

The game stayed 1-0 until the seventh, when Nashville scored the tying run on an infield grounder that handcuffed Robinson, whose only play was to first base. The ensuing fly out to end the inning was Mendoza’s final batter, leaving the win in the hands of the Chasers offense. They wouldn’t disappoint.

Jarrod Dyson led off the bottom of the seventh with a base hit, followed by a walk to David Lough. Lorenzo Cain went after the first pitch from reliever Daniel Meadows (0-2), lining it up the middle for the go-ahead single to put Omaha up 2-1. Southpaw Randy Flores was then summoned to face Robinson, who cranked a towering shot to right for a three-run home run to make it a 5-1 lead for the Chasers.

Nashville would crawl back to within two on solo home runs by Mat Gamel and Logan Schafer off reliever Jesse Chavez, but Kelvin Herrera would record the final out to preserve the 5-3 victory. It was Herrera’s fifth save of the year in five attempts, though he did see his personal six-straight strikeout streak snapped in the process.

With the win, the Storm Chasers (72-56) maintained their five game lead over Memphis (67-61) and increased their margin to 7.5 over Nashville (65-64). The Chasers magic number is 10 with 15 games remaining in the 2011 campaign.

Omaha and Nashville will meet for the second-to-last time this season Monday evening, when veteran righthander Jeff Suppan (11-6, 4.53) faces the Sounds for the first time since hurling a two-hit shutout against them on June 21 at Greer Stadium. Nashville will go with talented righthander Wily Peralta (2-0, 2.08), making just his third start at the Triple-A level. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., with television coverage provided by Time Warner Cable Metro Sports. Fans in the Kansas City and Lincoln areas can see the game on Metro Sports, while those in the greater Omaha area can watch live on Cox Channel 2.