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.

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.

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).

Omaha wins a wild one

Kevin Pucetas tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in relief.
(File photo: Brad Williams Photography)

Metairie, LA – Kevin Pucetas was sensational through 4.2 scoreless innings of relief work as Omaha rebounded from a slow start to overtake and then hang on to down New Orleans in a wild 11-10 affair Sunday evening in the last of a five-game series at Zephyr Field. 

The Storm Chasers lifted their record to 76-59, maintained their four-game lead over Memphis with eight to play and reduced their magic number to clinch the division title to four.

Lorenzo Cain’s sacrifice fly drove in Jarrod Dyson three batters into the game but the Zephyrs responded in the home half of the inning with Mike Cervenak’s two-out, two-run home run.

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.

Cain's ninth inning double lifts Chasers to fifth straight win

Lorenzo Cain's two-run double in the ninth lifted
Omaha to its fifth straight win
(File Photo: Gage Matthews / Kings of Kauffman)

Tacoma, Wash. – Lorenzo Cain’s two-run double in the ninth inning helped Omaha steal away with a 3-1 win over Tacoma Friday night to complete a four-game series sweep at Cheney Stadium.

The Storm Chasers won their fifth straight to finish an eight-game road trip with six wins and a five-game lead over Memphis in the PCL American North with just 17 games remaining.

Clint Robinson led off the second inning with an opposite field home run to left, his 20th of the season, to give the visitors the early lead before Michael Saunders doubled home Mike Wilson in the home fourth to even the count.

Navarro’s 9th inning home run gives Chasers another win

Yamaico Navarro blasted a three-run home run
to give Omaha a 4-2 win at Tacoma
(File photo: Lee Warren)

Tacoma, Wash. – Yamaico Navarro’s three-run home run in the ninth inning lifted Omaha to a 4-2 come-from-behind win over Tacoma Wednesday night in the second of a four-game series at Cheney Stadium.

The Storm Chasers improved to 69-55 and lengthened their lead to five games over Memphis in the PCL American North with just 19 regular season games left to play.

Trailing 2-1 after Tacoma had scored in the home eighth, the Chasers got back-to-back singles from Irving Falu and Lorenzo Cain to begin the decisive inning. Rainiers reliever Scott Patterson battled back to strike out Clint Robinson and Kila Ka’aihue and was one strike away from doing the same to Navarro before the shortstop drilled a line drive that cleared the left field wall to dramatically alter the contest with his first three runs driven in wearing an Omaha uniform.

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.

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.

Chasers defeat Fresno with three-run third inning

Joaquin Arias was 2-for-3 with a double and a triple
(File photo: Brad Williams / Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – Four successive hits in the third inning by Joaquin Arias, Jarrod Dyson, David Lough and Lorenzo Cain off Fresno starter Shane Loux produced three runs and the Omaha Storm Chasers went on to win 4-2 in front of 6,812 fans at Werner Park Monday night.

“I thought we swung better tonight,” said Omaha manager Mike Jirschele after the game. “There were a few times when we had a chance to tack on a few and we just couldn’t get that big hit, but we kept going and we scored enough to win.”

Sean O’Sullivan picked up his fifth win of the season and lowered his ERA to 3.22, giving up nine hits on two earned runs and one walk. He struck out four and gave up one home run – an opposite field solo shot to right field by Fresno first baseman Brett Pill.

Perez has big night in Chasers win

Salvador Perez was 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs
(File photo: Brad Williams /
Brad Williams Photography)

Omaha, Neb. – With violent storms whipping across the Omaha metro area Saturday night, the Chasers felt right at home, winning a 7-5 decision over the Sacramento River Cats at Werner Park. The game was delayed two times due to the weather, once with Omaha leading 6-4 in the fifth and again with the Storm Chasers on top 7-5 in the eighth.

The win by the Chasers, coupled with a loss by second place Memphis, gives Omaha a six game lead in the PCL American North. The Chasers are now 63-51 and they are 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Jeff Suppan (11-5) eventually earned the win in this one, as the 36-year-old righthander completed five innings of work just before the first storm hit. The 11 victories move him into a first-place tie for most wins in the league this season, matching Albuquerque’s Dana Eveland and Sacramento’s Graham Godfrey. He allowed four runs on four hits, walked two and struck out three in the game.

Catcher Salvador Perez, 15 years Suppan’s junior, was the hitting star for the Chasers in the ballgame. He ripped a pair of RBI doubles in the first three innings, giving him three runs batted in on the night and 10 in his short time in a Storm Chasers’ uniform. His second-inning double scored new shortstop Yamaico Navarro, who arrived in Omaha just three hours prior to first pitch. Navarro went 1-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.

Storm Chasers overcome four errors to win sixth straight

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

Omaha, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers extended their winning streak to six games Wednesday night, defeating the Sacramento River Cats 3-2, thanks to a two-run home run in the fourth inning by Clint Robinson and strong efforts from starting pitcher Sean O'Sullivan, and relievers Kelvin Herrera and Jesse Chavez, who were able to keep the River Cats from scoring over the final three innings.

The win guarantees that Omaha will maintain their five game lead in the PCL American North, with an opportunity to stretch it to six games if Memphis loses in Reno.

The Chasers didn’t make it easy on themselves. They committed four errors – three of which were by shortstop Lance Zawadzki (two throwing and one fielding) in the third inning – and left runners in scoring position twice with less than two outs, but were unable to get them home. Throw in the fact that the River Cats are full of mashers and Omaha manager Mike Jirschele was just happy to escape with the win.

Chasers take advantage of OKC errors

Omaha scored the winning run in the seventh on a bunt base
hit by Lough and subsequent throwing error on the play by
pitcher Douglas Arguello that permitted Joaquin Arias to score.
(File photo: Lee Wa

Oklahoma City, OK – Zach Miner, Kelvin Herrera and Jesse Chavez combined to throw 5.1 scoreless innings in relief as Omaha outlasted Oklahoma City, 5-4, Saturday night in the opener of a four-game series at Bricktown Ballpark. The Storm Chasers improved to 58-49 and maintained their five game lead over Memphis in the PCL American North, since the Redbirds lost to Iowa 6-3..

The Chasers jumped on OKC starter Sergio Perez for a pair of runs in the first inning runs on an errant throw by RedHawks’ catcher Robinson Cancel on a stolen base attempt by David Lough that allowed Jarrod Dyson to score from third base and a ground out by Clint Robinson that brought Lough home.

Perez hits a grand slam in 10-1 Chasers win

Robinson Tejeda pitched the final inning
in relief, giving up two hits, but not allowing a run
(File photo: Corey O'Malley)

Omaha, Neb. – Salvador Perez hit two grand slam home runs in his last four games at Double-A Northwest Arkansas, winning the Texas League Player of the Week award. Three games into his Triple-A career, he hasn’t missed a beat. Perez hit yet another grand slam, his first home run with Omaha, and later added an RBI single in the Storm Chasers 10-1 victory over Albuquerque in front of 8,791 fans Friday night at Werner Park.

The 21-year-old catcher, noted more for his defense than for his bat, went after the second pitch from reliever Ramon Troncoso in the bottom of the sixth inning, knocking it just over the wall in deep left-center, some 385 feet from home plate. His grand slam gave him a 20 runs batted in over his last seven games, surpassing the season total of 14 he had through the end of June. His 34 RBIs during the month of July is three more than any other player in all of professional baseball.

Perez’s heroics were plenty enough for Omaha starting pitcher Sean O’Sullivan (3-2), who allowed one run on three hits over six innings of work. He walked two and struck out five on the night. Kelvin Herrera, who came up with Perez from Double-A Wednesday, threw a scoreless seventh before Everett Teaford and Robinson Tejeda finished off the Isotopes with one scoreless inning apiece.

Mitchell's home run lifts Albuquerque over the Chasers

Omaha, Neb. – The last time the Albuquerque Isotopes ventured into Werner Park, third baseman Russ Mitchell hit a two-run home run to beat the Storm Chasers, 2-0, on July 3rd. Twenty-three days later, Mitchell delivered a repeat performance, blasting a two-run, go-ahead home run in the Isotopes’ 6-4 victory Tuesday night.

The ninth-inning long ball spoiled what was shaping up to be a fine performance by the Omaha bullpen, which was called upon in the fifth to replace ineffective starting pitcher Mike Montgomery. Right-hander Zach Miner held Albuquerque scoreless over the next four innings, giving the Storm Chasers an opportunity to get back in the game and have a chance at victory.

As has been the case quite often this season, Montgomery struggled with his control. Making his 20th start of the season, he allowed four runs on seven hits over four innings pitched, walking four and striking out three. He needed 93 pitches to get his first 10 outs, with the final two coming on a hard smash with the bases loaded that the Omaha defense turned into a 5-4-3, inning-ending double play with the Chasers trailing 4-1.

“He’s just been inconsistent with his command, and it’s something that’s got to get better,” said manager Mike Jirschele after the game. “He was fortunate to get through as far as he did.”