PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Albuquerque Barely Hangs on to Defeat Storm Chasers

Published on May 5, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


Albuquerque, N.M. - The Storm Chasers scored four times in the ninth inning but their comeback attempt fell just short in a 9-8 loss to Albuquerque Thursday night in the last of a four-game set at Isotopes Park. The two teams split the series and have evenly divided eight games so far this season.

Omaha's lead in the American Conference Northern Division remained at three games over Iowa on the day that first baseman Eric Hosmer was promoted to the Kansas City Royals. Even without the league's leading hitter in the lineup, the Storm Chasers cranked out 14 hits and drew six walks against four Albuquerque hurlers.

David Lough extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a leadoff triple in the third and scored the game's first run one out later on a wild pitch. Then, with two outs, Clint Robinson singled, stole second and moved to third on a base hit by Lorenzo Cain, who stayed in a rundown between first and second base long enough to allow the Omaha first baseman to cross the plate to make it a 2-0 game.

Albuquerque halved the lead in the bottom of the inning on a two-out RBI hit by A.J. Ellis and tied the game in the fourth on a solo home run by Trayvon Robinson.

The Chasers regained the lead right back in the top of the fifth on run-producing singles by Johnny Giavotella and Robinson but left the bases loaded with one out. Albuquerque responded with a two-run single from Trent Oeltjen in the bottom half of the inning to draw even at four.

Omaha filled the bases again with one out in the seventh but failed to score and that would prove costly as the hosts tallied five times against Luis Mendoza in the home portion of the frame.

Jamie Hoffman delivered a two-run bases loaded single with one out to snap the tie and John Lindsey followed suit two batters later to make it an 8-4 Isotopes advantage. Eugenio Velez's sacrifice fly tacked on the final run of the inning.

Irving Falu's run-scoring ground out, Lance Zawadzki's two-run single and Lough's RBI base hit in the ninth trimmed the Omaha deficit to 9-8 before Merkin Valdez got Giavotella to ground out with two runners on to end the game and earn his second save of the series.

The Storm Chasers return home Friday night to begin a four-game series with the Oklahoma City RedHawks. Veteran right-hander Jeff Suppan will get the starting nod for Omaha and will be matched up against OKC southpaw Ryan Rowland-Smith. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:45 p.m. and can be heard locally on KOIL AM 1180 and online at omahastormchasers.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 5, 2011


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