Clippers down the Chasers in Triple-A Championship

The 2011 Pacific Coast League Championship
trophy was on hand at Fire Barn in Omaha where
fans gathered to watch the game
(Photo: Lee Warren)

Albuquerque, N.M. – If it wasn’t already clear that the Triple-A National Championship Game was primarily an exhibition, it became so on Tuesday night when Luis Mendoza started for the Kansas City Royals rather than the Omaha Storm Chasers.

While Mendoza was mowing down the Tigers in a 10-2 win at Kauffman Stadium, Sean O’Sullivan struggled, after having nine days off, in an 8-3 losing effort for the Storm Chasers against the Columbus Clippers.

The one-game, nationally-televised playoff showcase started out well for Omaha, but the offense and pitching stalled out after a first-inning display reminiscent of performances throughout this year’s championship run.

The Storm Chasers win the PCL Championship

Mike Montgomery tossed five shutout innings
and picked up the win in Sacramento
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

West Sacramento, Calif. – On April 7, Eric Hosmer stood in left field at Werner Park and fielded questions from a few reporters. He was aware that Omaha fell just one game short of the playoffs in 2010, prompting him to tell us, “Really, everyone in this clubhouse has one goal – and that’s just to win a championship.”

Even though Hosmer was probably rooting the team on from Kansas City after hitting a walkoff RBI double to give the Royals a 7-6 victory over Chicago, the mission was still accomplished.

The Omaha Storm Chasers defeated the Sacramento River Cats 11-6 Friday night to sweep the series and become the Pacific Coast League champions, giving the team its first league title since 1990 and first ever PCL championship since joining the league in 1998.

Chasers win Game 2 of the PCL Championship Series

Jarrod Dyson finished 4-for-6 with a homer,
four RBIs, three runs, a double and a stolen base
(Photo from Game 1: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers drew one step closer to winning its first Pacific Coast League championship Wednesday night at Werner Park when they trounced the Sacramento River Cats 15-4 in front of 4,039 fans.

The Chasers fell behind early. Omaha starter Vin Mazzaro struggled with his command in the first inning, in which he threw 30 pitches (16 balls). He gave up a single to Jermaine Mitchell to lead off the game. Mitchell stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Josh Donaldson. Adrian Cardenas then took Mazzaro deep to right field to give Sacramento an early 3-0 lead.

“I wasn’t real happy – you give them three runs in the first,” said Omaha manager Mike Jirschele after the game. “But you know what? Our guys battled back and got us one right away to put us within two. We had eight innings to go after that, so we were still in the game.”

Omaha wins Game 1 of the PCL Championship Series

Luis Mendoza picked up his second win of the postseason
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers continue to win in the most unlikely of ways.

On Tuesday night, during Game 1 of the PCL Championship Series, David Lough ripped a ball down the right field line, but stumbled and fell on his way to second base in the seventh inning. He scrambled back to first in time and was followed by Lorenzo Cain, who hit a blooper into right field that Grant Greene was unable to corral and Lough was able to score what turned out to be the winning run all the way from first base.

The 3-2 win for the Chasers gives them a 1-0 lead over the Sacramento River Cats in the best of five, PCL Championship Series. And the 4,203 fans who were in attendance couldn’t have been happier. As has been the case throughout the playoffs, fans gave players standing ovations and were engaged with every pitch. Rob White, from the Omaha World Herald, wrote a blog post about this. Check it out if you get a chance.

Chasers drop a heartbreaker in extra innings

Omaha, Neb. – Omaha had everything going its way Friday night – an engaged crowd creating an incredible playoff atmosphere, a 2-0 lead in the PCL American Conference Championship Series against Round Rock and a return home to Werner Park, but in the end they lost a 9-8 heartbreaker in eleven innings after the Storm Chasers committed two errors in the top of the 11th inning, allowing the Express to score three times.

With two outs in the Express half of the 11th inning, Brad Nelson hit a slow roller that somehow squirted through the legs of Joaquin Arias at first base, putting runners at the corners against Zach Miner. Chad Tracy took full advantage of the miscue and ripped a single to center field, giving the Express a 7-6 lead. Joey Butler, who is 8-for-11 (.727) in the series, followed with another single that Jarrod Dyson booted, allowing Nelson and Tracy to score to extend Round Rock’s lead to 9-6.

The Chasers scored two runs in the bottom of the eleventh, but it wasn’t quite enough. It was their second comeback attempt of the evening.

Mendoza and Robinson lead Omaha to Game 1 win

Clint Robinson blasted a two-run home run in the first inning
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Round Rock, Tex. – Luis Mendoza and Kelvin Herrera combined on a five-hit shutout, leading the Omaha Storm Chasers to a 4-0 Game 1 victory, in the best-of-five series, over the Round Rock Express at The Dell Diamond Wednesday night.

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).

Chasers drop final game of the regular season

Kurt Mertins was 2-for-3 with a run scored
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Des Moines, IA – The regular season came to and a disappointing end Monday at Principal Park with a 7-2 loss to Iowa. The Chasers dropped their final two games to finish 79-63 and missed out on winning 80 games in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history.

Brett Jackson’s lead off long ball in the home first got the scoring started and was the first home run allowed by Omaha starter Kevin Pucetas since June 30. The Cubs added another run in the second on a two-out RBI hit by their Canadian catcher Chris Robinson, who was honored on Chris Robinson Day at the ballpark.

The Chasers tied the game in the third on run-scoring hits by David Lough and Clint Robinson, who joined Chris Hatcher, who collected 106 RBIs in 1998, as the only players in franchise history to drive in 100 runs in a single season. However, Omaha was blanked over the final six innings by Jay Jackson, Nick Struck and Robert Coello.

Omaha's offense explodes for 15 runs in Iowa

Irving Falu was 3-for-6 with a home run and two runs scored.
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Des Moines, IA – Willy Lebron worked 2.2 scoreless innings in relief while Omaha’s offense poured it on in a 15-5 decision over Iowa Friday night in the opener of the final four-game series of the regular season at Principal Park.

The Storm Chasers collected 16 hits, drew nine walks and took advantage of three errors to improve their overall record to 79-61 and their record away from home to 39-29.

Irving Falu’s solo home run in the first inning got the scoring started before the visitors added a trio of runs with two outs in the third. David Lough tripled and scored after an errant throw to third base prior to Manny Pina’s two-run double that made it a 4-0 game.

Lou Montanez tripled in a run and scored during a three-run bottom half of the third that brought the Cubs back to within one. Iowa moved in front for the first time in the fourth when Marquez Smith delivered an RBI double and scored when Chris Robinson followed with a base hit.

Omaha drops final regular season home game

Kevin Pucetas threw four innings of scoreless relief,
extending his scoreless innings streak to 9.2.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – A day after clinching the franchise’s first postseason berth in 12 years, the Storm Chasers got off to a hot start before running out of gas in a 9-4 defeat to the Round Rock Express. The Thursday night crowd of 8,927 pushed the Werner Park inaugural season attendance total to 410,326.

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.

Chasers lose a close one, but magic number reduced to two

David Lough was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a BB.
(File photo: Gage Matthews / Kings of Kauffman)

Omaha, Neb. – Round Rock catcher Taylor Teagarden belted two solo home runs, leading the Express past the Storm Chasers 3-2 Tuesday night at Werner Park. The Chasers put the tying run in scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings, but were unable to score the equalizer.

“We battled,” said Omaha manager Mike Jirschele after the game about the team the Chasers will face in the playoffs, if they can maintain their lead.

“It was a tough game,” he said. “You know, we play these guys tough all the time – they are up, what now, 10-4 [in the season series] on the year? But if you look at it, I think there was only one game where we got beat by seven, but otherwise, there have been a lot of two-run, one-run games – extra innings. You know, we play them tough. 

“But what hurt us tonight is when we lost Clint [Robinson] and Kila [Ka’aihue] both and you’ve got to put Mertins and Zawadzki in the four and five hole for most of the game. Not that they can’t do the job, but it hurts when you lose those two big boppers.”

4-3 Omaha win reduces magic number to three

Clint Robinson is hitting .404 in August.
(File photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – Willy Lebron pitched three scoreless innings of relief, ensuring that Clint Robinson’s go-ahead two-run single would be enough for the Chasers to defeat the Round Rock Express 4-3 Monday night at Werner Park.

After the game, Omaha manager Mike Jirschele spoke about Robinson, who is hitting .404 with 29 RBIs in August.

“He made two outstanding [defensive] plays tonight,” Jirschele said. “Besides that, he’s seeing the ball good – swinging the bat well. He’s on a mission right now and he’s been helping to carry this club.”

The victory reduced the Storm Chasers’ magic number to three with seven games remaining, but Jirschele was quick to point out that the Chasers need to stay focused.

“Memphis has got a good club,” he said. “They could easily win out. So we’ve got to be able to go out and win three more games yet.”

Omaha and Memphis both lose, magic number drops to five

Metairie, LA – Alex Romero had four hits, scored a run and drove in a run as New Orleans held off Omaha, 6-3, Saturday evening in the fourth of a five-game series at Zephyr Field. The Storm Chasers fell to 75-59, but maintained their four-game lead over Memphis, since they lost as well, in the PCL American North. The Chaser's magic number dropped to five.

 Trailing 6-3, the Chasers two last-gasp efforts failed when they put runners at second and third with nobody out in the eighth but could not score, as Dan Jennings got Clint Robinson to fly out before striking out Kila Ka’aihue and retiring Irving Falu on a ground out. Victor Garate was called on with runners at the corners and two out in the ninth and got David Lough to fly out to end the game and secure the hosts second win of the series.

Jorge Padilla and Joe Thurston opened the home first with back-to-back doubles to produce the game’s first run against Omaha starter Jeff Suppan, who avoided further damage by stranding Thurston at third with one out.

New Orleans expanded its lead to 4-0 in the fifth on a run-scoring base hit by Padilla, a former Omaha outfielder, and a two-run double from Vinny Rottino. Omaha started its comeback in the next half inning as the middle of the order rallied for three runs with two out against New Orleans starter Tom Koehler, who lasted 5.2 innings to pick up his 11th win of the season.

Falu drives in three in Chasers win

Irving Falu's bases loaded double in the first inning
gave Vin Mazzaro all the run support he needed.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Metairie, LA – Vin Mazzaro was solid for six innings on the mound and Irving Falu delivered the game’s biggest hit as Omaha opened a five-game series with a 4-1 rain-shortened win over New Orleans at Zephyr Field.

The Storm Chasers improved to 74-57 and reduced their magic number to clinch their first division title since 1999 to eight.

The game was called after a 35-minute delay with two outs, nobody on and Zach Miner pitching to Chris Coghlan in the home seventh. Miner picked up his first save of the season.

Omaha loaded the bases with three singles in the first inning before Kila Ka’aihue popped out for the second out of the inning. However, Falu followed with a double that cleared the bases and staked the Chasers to a 3-0 lead. Falu has driven in 13 runs this month – which is more than he has driven in during any other month this season. He’s also hitting .400 (16-for-40) over his past ten games.

O'Sullivan wins his sixth straight start

Sean O'Sullivan won his sixth straight start on Tuesday.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – After an embarrassing defensive performance last night, in which the Storm Chasers committed six errors, Omaha manager Mike Jirschele tweaked the defense and Sean O’Sullivan pitched a gem en route to a 5-2 Omaha win over Nashville on Tuesday night.

Second place Memphis won as well, so Omaha maintained its four-game lead in the PCL American North. The loss moved the Sounds to 7.5 games back.

After the game on Monday, Jirschele said he would make some adjustments to the defense. The adjustments included moving Irving Falu from second base to shortstop (replacing Yamaico Navarro who committed two errors) and putting Kila Ka’aihue back at first base, replacing Clint Robinson (who committed two errors).

Omaha unable to overcome six errors

Omaha starter Jeff Suppan allowed one earned
run in 6.1 innings pitched, giving up six hits
and one walk to go with one strikeout.
(Photo: Brad Williams Photography)

 

Omaha, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers dropped a 7-3, 11-inning decision to Nashville Monday evening at Werner Park – a game marred by six Chasers errors that aided six of the Sounds seven runs. Omaha was unable to capitalize on a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth that sent the game to extras, remaining winless at Werner Park when trailing after eight innings.

Before the game reached extra innings, the Chasers were able to forge a tie with two out in the ninth thanks to some patience at the plate and a clutch base hit.

With David Lough aboard at third and two men already out, Clint Robinson coaxed a free pass from reliever Donovan Hand, followed by an infield single by Kila Ka’aihue to score Lough and bring the Chasers to within a run at 3-2. After Irving Falu worked a six-pitch walk to load the bases, Yamaico Navarro smashed a grounder past a diving Eric Farris at second base. Pinch-runner Joaquin Arias scored easily, but rightfielder Caleb Gindl’s throw home was on the money to gun down pinch-runner Kurt Mertins, ending the ninth with a 3-3 score. It was one of two innings in which the Chasers made the third out on the basepaths.

Sounds turn triple play in 4-1 win over Omaha

Mike Montgomery gave up four runs in the first inning,
but settled down after that and kept the Sounds off the
board. (Photo: Minda Haas / Royal Blues)

Omaha, Neb. – The Nashville Sounds scored four times in the top of the first inning and held on from there, knocking off the Storm Chasers 4-1 in front of a full house of 9,023 fans Saturday night at Werner Park. An RBI double by Taylor Green, a sacrifice fly by Mat Gamel and a two-run double by Caleb Gindl – all lefthanded hitters – proved the difference against Omaha southpaw Mike Montgomery.

Montgomery (5-8) wound up working six scoreless innings after the troublesome first, allowing just two hits and a walk the rest of the way. He struck out six batters, throwing 74 of his 109 pitches for strikes. The Chasers were unable to provide much offense, however, stranding 12 runners on base and squandering numerous scoring opportunities.

“We had our chances,” Jirschele said after the game. “I mean, we had nine hits and we got ourselves in some situations where we were one hit away from scoring some runs. We just couldn’t get that big hit. It was just one of those nights.

“Then, after Robinson hits that ball to center and it bounces off the guy’s head and they get a triple play, I thought, this isn’t our night.”

Four-run ninth propels Omaha to victory

Kila Ka'aihue's ninth inning home run moved him
into fifth place on the franchise's all-time list
(File photo: Lee Warren) 

Salt Lake City, UT – Kila Ka’aihue’s two-run home run finished off a four-run ninth inning that propelled Omaha to a 9-6 win over Salt Lake Monday night in the last of a four-game series at Spring Mobile Ballpark. The Storm Chasers improved to 67-55 and held on to their four-game lead over victorious Memphis in the PCL American North.

Joaquin Arias opened the decisive inning with a walk, but was thrown out at second base on Jarrod Dyson’s attempted sacrifice bunt. Irving Falu, who was 4-for-4, was hit by a pitch and the runners then pulled off a double steal. In a 5-5 game against a drawn-in infield, Dyson scored the go-ahead run on a Lorenzo Cain ground out before Clint Robinson’s single pushed Falu across with an insurance run. Ka’aihue followed with his long ball, the 62nd of his career with Omaha to move him into fifth place on the franchise’s all-time list, to sew up the victory.

Bees win in walk-off fashion

Salt Lake City, UT – Freddy Sandoval belted a lead off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Salt Lake to a 2-1 triumph over Omaha Sunday evening in the third of a four-game series at Spring Mobile Ballpark. The Storm Chasers dipped to 66-55 and saw their lead in the PCL American North sliced to four games over now-second place Memphis, which shut out Tucson earlier in the day.

The Bees pushed across the game's first run in the first inning on Jeff Baisley's run-scoring hit but couldn't add to their lead with runners at the corners and nobody out in the second . Jarrod Dyson's lead off long ball, his second in as many days, got the game even in the fourth and gave him eight hits in 12 at-bats to that point in the series.

Omaha starter Vin Mazzaro yielded just a lone run on seven hits and matched a season-high with 10 strikeouts but was not involved the decision. He was removed after a two-out walk to Alexi Amarista, his third of the game, with two outs in the seventh before Zach Miner came on to record the final out of the inning.

Suppan loses second game since early May

Clint Robinson was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored
(File photo: Lee Warren)

Salt Lake City, UT – Ronald “Bear” Bay worked seven solid innings and received home run support from Efren Navarro and Paul McAnulty in Salt Lake’s 6-2 victory over Omaha Friday night in the opener of a four-game series at Spring Mobile Ballpark. 

The Storm Chasers dropped to 65-54 and saw their lead in the PCL American North sliced to 4.5 games over now-second place Nashville.

Gil Velazquez’s RBI single, a solo home run by Navarro and a sacrifice fly to center by Alexi Amarista gave the Bees a 3-0 lead in the second inning.

Chasers hang on for 7-6 win

Lorenzo Cain belted his career
high 15th home run of the season
(Photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. — The Storm Chasers jumped out to an early five-run lead against the Fresno Grizzlies, ultimately hanging on for a 7-6 victory Wednesday afternoon at Werner Park. The Chasers improved to 11-2 in games while trailing 2-1 in a series.

Down 2-1 entering the third inning, Cody Clark lead off with a bloop single and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jarrod Dyson, with Dyson reaching safely on an error. David Lough followed with a bunt single – which resulted in yet another error, allowing Clark to score from second to make it 2-2.

After Lorenzo Cain – who homered in the first inning – was hit by a pitch, Clint Robinson ripped a two-run double to make it 4-2 Chasers. Kila Ka’aihue then stepped to the plate and belted his eighth home run of the season and third in his past five games, making it a 7-2 ballgame in favor of Omaha.

The Grizzlies clawed their way back into the game. They picked up two runs in the fourth inning on a double by third baseman Edgar Gonazalez to pull within three runs.