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| Kevin Pucetas threw four innings of scoreless relief, extending his scoreless innings streak to 9.2. (File photo: Brad Williams Photography) |
All of the Chasers’ scoring took place in the bottom of the first inning off eventual winning pitcher Martin Perez (4-4). After loading the bases with nobody out on two walks and a bunt single, Lorenzo Cain drove in a run with a ground out to make it 1-0 in favor of Omaha. Joaquin Arias followed with a two-run single and Manny Pina added a sacrifice fly, making it a 4-0 ballgame in the early going.
Perez held the Storm Chasers to just two hits and no walks in his next four innings, departing with a 6-4 lead after five innings of play. The 20-year-old lefty struck out five, keeping the Chasers off-balance with his excellent change-up.
Omaha starter Jeff Suppan (11-8) allowed six runs on six hits over three innings, throwing just 66 pitches before departing. The loss ran his personal winless streak to five starts, including three-straight losing decisions after winning 9-of-10 from May 11-August 6.
“Soup struggled with his command,” said Omaha manager Mike Jirschele. “You know, we were just trying to get him through a few innings so we didn’t have to use the bullpen up. But we just got him out of there.”
Kevin Pucetas threw four innings of scoreless relief, extending his scoreless innings streak to 9.2.
“Pucetas came in and did a good job,” Jirschele said. “We jumped on them with four right away and then just more or less shut it down after that.”
The Chasers mustered five hits in the game, including a pair from David Lough. No Omaha hitter collected an extra-base hit on the night. Following Perez’ five innings, relievers Michael Kirkman and Tanner Scheppers combined for four hitless innings with seven strikeouts for the Express.
Chad Tracy, son of Rockies’ manager Jim, belted his 24th and 25th home runs of the season, the second time in the series a Round Rock player collected a multi-home run game. Taylor Teagarden hit two solo shots in a 3-2 Express victory on Tuesday.
The Storm Chasers will hit the road for four final regular season games against the Iowa Cubs, beginning Friday night and concluding with a Labor Day Monday matinee.
“I’m going to try to give some guys a day off here and there,” Jirschele said about the upcoming series in Iowa. “But with the shortage of extra players, it’s going to be tough.”
The Chasers are currently carrying 12 pitchers, so they only have 12 position players. Kila Ka’aihue and Clint Robinson are still nursing injuries, which really only leaves Jirschele with 10 position players – two of whom are catchers. It looks like the Chasers may be adding first baseman John Whittleman from Wilmington (.234 AVG, 20 HR, 68 RBIs in 123 games this season) to the roster today.
Jirschele was a guest on the Chasers’ pre-game show with Mark Nasser and he addressed the condition of Ka’aihue and Robinson.
“KK is probably going to take some dry swings tomorrow – possibly some soft toss in the cages and I’m thinking he should be ready in a couple of days, hopefully, if the muscle in his back loosens up for him,” Jirschele said. “But we’re not going to rush him. You know, we’ve got four games over in Iowa and even if he plays the last game, that’s fine.
“Clint – we’re probably going to see what he can do Sunday and see if he has any pain, which he’s probably going to have with that hernia, but it is something he can play through as long as he can stand the pain.”
The Chasers follow the series in Iowa with a trip to Round Rock for Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-five American Conference Championship Series.
The first game of the post-season at Werner Park is scheduled for Friday, September 9 at 7:05 p.m., with “if necessary” games set for Saturday, Sept. 10 at 1:05 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 11 at 2:05 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Werner Park ticket office, by phone at (402) 738-5100 or online at www.omahastormchasers.com. Ticket office hours are 10 am. to 6 pm.
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Josh Odson contributed to this story.
