Noonan, Fresno Come Back to Beat Storm Chasers
Published on May 15, 2012 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
Fresno, CA - Nick Noonan doubled home the tie-breaking runs in the eighth inning to lift Fresno to a 6-4 victory over Omaha Tuesday afternoon in the last of four meetings at Chukchansi Park. The Storm Chasers return home from their swing through California at 25-15, having dropped five of eight games with Sacramento and the Grizzlies.
Fresno starter Yusmeiro Petit gave up two runs on seven hits over six innings and was followed to the hill by George Kontos, who worked a scoreless seventh and handed a two-run lead to Dan Otero. The Storm Chasers strung together three straight singles to begin the eighth, the last of which by Anthony Seratelli drove in Tony Abreu to shave the deficit to 4-3. David Lough reached first base after grounding into a double play and scored the tying run when Kevin Kouzmanoff singled off the wall in left-center field.
Eli Whiteside singled with two outs in the decisive bottom half of the inning and moved to second base when Justin Christian drew a walk off Blaine Hardy, who was replaced by Tommy Hottovy, another southpaw. Noonan spoiled the strategy, as he doubled home both runners to put Fresno back in the lead and pick up the first hit in 18 at-bats by a lefty hitter off of Hottovy this season. Jean Machi retired the side in order in the ninth, striking out a pair, to preserve the win that gave Fresno a series split and earn his first save of the season.
Clint Robinson doubled in Derrick Robinson in the first inning and again in the third to give the Storm Chasers a 2-0 advantage. Fresno rallied to tie the game on Noonan's two-out RBI double in the third and a run-scoring ground out by Todd Linden in the fourth. The hosts took the lead for the first time in the fifth on Brock Bond's two-out bunt base hit that plated Christian, who had opened the inning with a single, his ninth hit of the series.
Omaha starter Mike Montgomery was lifted after six innings during which he allowed three runs on eight hits while walking three and fanning four. The southern California native was replaced by Hardy, who gave up a solo home run to Roger Kieschnick in the seventh that extended the Grizzlies advantage to 4-2.
The Storm Chasers return home Thursday to open a four-game series with Tacoma with left-hander Will Smith taking the mound against Rainers' right-hander Andrew Carraway. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:15 pm and can be heard locally on AM 1180 and online at omahastormchasers.com.
Pacific Coast League Stories from May 15, 2012
- Sky Sox Grounded by Redbirds - Memphis Redbirds
- River Cats Split Series with 9-4 Win over Iowa - Sacramento River Cats
- Rainiers Roughed Up By Round Rock, 11-3 - Tacoma Rainiers
- River Cats Sink Cubs - Iowa Cubs
- Noonan, Fresno Come Back to Beat Storm Chasers - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Manny Ramirez to Play at the Dell Diamond - Round Rock Express
- Manny Ramirez to Return to Albuquerque - Albuquerque Isotopes
- RedHawks Blast Off in 7-4 Win - Oklahoma City Comets
- Manny Ramirez Set to Join Sacramento River Cats - Sacramento River Cats
- Sounds Take Three of Four from Reno with 9-7 Victory on Wednesday - Nashville Sounds
- Isotopes Bested by Bees, 4-1 - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Nashville Tops Aces 9-7 in Finale - Reno Aces
- Albuquerque's Brian Cavazos-Galvez Joins Isotopes - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Cubs Sign Former All-Star MacDougal - Iowa Cubs
- RedHawks Game Notes: May 15, 2012 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Round Rock Express - Game Notes at Tacoma Rainiers - Round Rock Express
- Round Rock Express Slide Continues at Tacoma 13-6 - Round Rock Express
- Rainiers Rock Express, 13-6 - Tacoma Rainiers
- Five-Spot in Ninth Sends Omaha Past Fresno - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Cubs Contain River Cats - Iowa Cubs
- I-Cubs Top River Cats, 3-1 - Sacramento River Cats
- Bees Sting Isotopes 3-2 - Albuquerque Isotopes
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