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| Clint Robinson blasted a two-run home run in the first inning (File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues) |
Mendoza, the PCL Pitcher of the Year, held the Express to five hits and two walks in seven shutout innings, striking out four batters. He improved his road record to 11-1 with a 1.91 ERA between the regular and postseason away from Werner Park, including 10-0 in his last 11 appearances. Mendoza (1-0) handed the game off to Royals’ Paul Splittorff Minor League Pitcher of the Year Kelvin Herrera, who needed just 22 pitches to toss two perfect innings with four strikeouts.
The Chasers got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning, scoring three runs just four batters into the game against Round Rock starting and losing pitcher Eric Hurley (0-1).
Jarrod Dyson worked a walk to start the game and quickly moved into scoring position when David Lough beat out a bunt single. After Dyson was caught stealing third, Lorenzo Cain tripled to the right-center gap to score Lough and give Omaha a 1-0 lead. Clint Robinson then crushed the first-pitch he saw for an opposite-field, two-run homer, making it 3-0.
From there it was a heavy dose of Mendoza, who needed just 87 pitches to complete his seven innings of work. The Chasers gave him some added insurance in the top of the eighth, when Manny Pina doubled and scored on a double-play grounder by Dyson to cap the evening’s scoring.
The playoff victory was the franchise’s first since September 9, 1999, when the Omaha Golden Spikes defeated the Oklahoma RedHawks in Game 3 of the American Conference Championship Series. It was the team’s first playoff shutout victory since blanking Nashville 1-0 in Game 1 of the 1990 playoffs. That win spurred Omaha to its last league championship.
Game 2 between the Chasers and Express is set for Thursday in Round Rock, with right-hander Vin Mazzaro (7-2, 4.29) facing off against 20-year-old left-hander Martin Perez (4-4, 6.43).
