Mills dominates; Chasers can't get past suspended-game hangover
May 20, 2011 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA, Neb. - Las Vegas starting pitcher Brad Mills fired eight innings of four-hit, shutout baseball, helping the 51s take down the Omaha Storm Chasers 6-1 Friday night at Werner Park. The loss, coupled with a ninth-inning meltdown that carried over from Thursday to Friday due to a rain-suspended game, gave the Storm Chasers two losses in a four-hour span and dropped them to just five games over .500 at 23-18 on the season.
Mills, a 26-year-old lefthander, handcuffed the Storm Chasers through his eight brilliant innings. He allowed just the four hits, walked three and struck out five. Omaha hitters were just 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Clint Everts closed out the ninth, allowing a long solo home run to Clint Robinson, his 11th homer of the season, before recording the final three outs.
Las Vegas centerfielder Dewayne Wise was one of a host of hitting stars for the 51s, going 3-for-5 with a single, triple and homer off Omaha starting pitcher Luis Mendoza (1-3). The home run led off the ballgame, continuing the hot-hitting by the 51s that began with the completion of Thursday night's suspended game just prior to Friday's tilt.
In that contest, Las Vegas erased a 5-3 deficit with nine ninth-inning runs, four of which came on Thursday night prior to the rain delay and five more which came across Friday evening. Blaine Hardy's first pitch Friday was belted off the left-field fence by Travis Snider, clearing the bases and giving Las Vegas a 10-5 lead. Two batters later, veteran slugger Jason Lane took Hardy over the wall, giving the 51s the final margin in a 12-5 win.
The Storm Chasers and 51s will continue their four-game series Saturday night, with Mike Jirschele still searching for his 1,000th-career victory as a minor league manager. Jirschele will turn to flame-throwing righthander Jeremy Jeffress, who was just sent down from the Kansas City Royals on Thursday afternoon. Jeffress, one of the key pieces of this offseason's trade for Zack Greinke, will make his first start as a member of the Royals' organization. He was 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA in 15.1 relief innings in Kansas City, allowing eight runs on 12 hits with 11 walks and 13 strikeouts. Las Vegas will counter with southpaw Luis Perez, who has posted a 2-1 record with a 4.54 ERA in six starts with the 51s this season.
Saturday's game is also "Bark in the Park" - where canine companions are welcome to visit and enjoy a Storm Chasers game at Werner Park for the first time. Fans with dogs may purchase McDonald's Berm tickets ($6 for humans, $1 for pets), with all dog-ticket proceeds benefiting Domesti-PUPS, a 501(c)3 organization. Domesti-PUPS (Providing Unique Personal Service) is a volunteer-based organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for persons with special needs through the assistance of animals and to promote awareness through education.
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