Brooks Goes the Distance in Chasers' Win
August 24, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
Tacoma, WA - Aaron Brooks tossed a complete game six-hitter to lead Omaha past Tacoma, 5-1, Saturday night in the last of a four-game set at Cheyney Stadium. The Storm Chasers battled back to win the last two games to earn a series split to improve to 71-63 and keep the victorious Oklahoma City RedHawks two games behind in the American Conference North Division with nine games remaining in the regular season.
Johnny Giavotella doubled with one out in the first inning, moved to third base on a Paulo Orlando single and then swiped home on the back end of a double steal to get the visitors on the board in their initial at-bat for the second straight night and for the eighth time in their last 12 contests. Tacoma got the game tied in the fourth on a run-scoring double by Justin Smoak but missed out on an opportunity to take the lead after Brooks got John Hicks to pop up and then struck out Julio Morban with the bases loaded.
Tacoma starter Jordan Pries retired 14 in a row and 18 of 19, allowing only a single to Brian Bocock leading off the sixth during that stretch, before Cheslor Cuthbert walked with one away in the seventh to ignite the decisive rally. Brett Hayes followed with a base hit before Seattle native Matt Fields delivered the tie-breaking double, just his second hit of the series, to put the Chasers ahead to stay. Paul Janish then connected on a single to drive in Hayes to extend the visitors lead to 3-1 and knock Pries out of the game after he had allowed six hits, walked one and struck out five. Andrew Carraway came on and was able to keep Fields stranded at third with a strike out and a fly out.
Giavotella walked to open the eighth and was replaced by pinch-runner Terrance Gore, who stole second base and moved to third on a single by Orlando that ended Carraway's time on the hill. Lucas Luetge was brought on and he struck out Carlos Peguero before Cuthbert's fielder's choice grounder brought Gore across the plate with an insurance marker. Fields, playing in front of more than 70 family members and friends, then punctuated his night with a lead off long ball, his 24th of the season, in the ninth to account for the final run of the night.
Brooks earned his 11th win after he yielded six hits, walked one and fanned four. The right-hander set down the last 17 batters he faced to finish off Omaha's first nine-inning complete game since Chris Dwyer did it in Tucson on August 11, 2012.
Omaha will send left-hander John Lamb to the mound in Sunday's series opener against Reno southpaw Andrew Chafin. Coverage of the game gets underway at 7:45 pm and can be heard locally on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and online at omahastormchasers.com.
• Discuss this story on the Pacific Coast League message board...
Pacific Coast League Stories from August 24, 2014
- Chihuahuas Rally to Down Sky Sox, 9-7 - Colorado Springs Sky Sox
- Fresno Feels The Blues In Series Opening Loss To Memphis - Fresno Grizzlies
- Chihuahuas Blow past Colorado Springs in Seventh - El Paso Chihuahuas
- RedHawks Open Series with 6-3 Win - Oklahoma City Baseball Club
- Cats Deafened by Sounds, 14-2 - Sacramento River Cats
- Sounds Blow out River Cats in Series Opener, 14-2 - Nashville Sounds
- Homer-Happy Redbirds Shut out Fresno, 8-0 - Memphis Redbirds
- Isotopes Fall 6-3 in Series Opener at Oklahoma City - Albuquerque Isotopes
- Aces Open Final Home Series of Regular Season - Reno Aces
- RedHawks Game Notes: August 24, 2014 - Oklahoma City Baseball Club
- Cubs Avoid Straight Flush in Reno - Iowa Cubs
- Vaughn's Walk off Homer Downs the Zephyrs in Vegas - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Aces Fall Two Games Back After Loss in Finale - Reno Aces
- Brooks Goes the Distance in Chasers' Win - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Rainiers Drop Finale With Omaha, 5-1 - Tacoma Rainiers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
