PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Giavotella's Walk-Off Winner Lifts Chasers in Extras

Published on April 26, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


Omaha, NE - The Omaha Storm Chasers (13-8) collected their first walk-off win of the 2013 season 5-4 as second baseman Johnny Giavotella played the hero with a game-winning single in the tenth inning to even the series with the Iowa Cubs (7-13). The hit extended Giavotella's team-high hitting streak to eight games and on-base streak to 16 games while also being his team-leading 14th RBI of the season.

The Storm Chasers had a 4-2 lead entering the ninth inning, but a pinch-hit two-run homer by Iowa first baseman Brad Nelson forced the first extra-inning game between Iowa and Omaha in Werner Park history. After two scoreless half innings following the Nelson blast, rightfielder Willy Taveras got the tenth inning rally started with an infield hit and was moved in to scoring position by a sacrifice bunt by centerfielder David Lough. After shortstop Christian Colon nearly ended the game with a single that Iowa third baseman Brent Lillibridge kept in the infield, Giavotella sent the offering by Cubs reliever Zach Putnam right back up the middle scoring Taveras from second. The Storm Chasers have won two of three extra-inning games this season.

The ninth inning homer by Nelson prevented Omaha starter Chris Dwyer from becoming the Pacific Coast League's first four-game winner, but Dwyer posted a fourth consecutive quality start by going seven innings for the second time this season and allowing only two runs. The fourth consecutive quality start ties a personal best in his professional career when he strung together four while with Northwest Arkansas during the 2011 season. The left-hander has not allowed more than two runs in any of his five starts this season, and leads all Chasers starters with a 2.56 ERA.

The two teams scored six of the nine runs in the game on four homers, two for each side. First baseman Max Ramirez and third baseman Brandon Wood scorched the first pitch they saw in the fourth and seventh innings respectively to left-center field, the first homer at Werner Park for both hitters this season. Lough scored multiple runs for the sixth time in his last seven games on two sacrifice flies by Colon and Giavotella, one set up by his franchise-leading 37th triple in the third inning.

The win moves the all-time record at Werner Park between the two teams to 9-9, and no team in the Pacific Coast League with more than one series played in Papillion owns a winning record against the Storm Chasers. Omaha also kept the hope of winning a fifth consecutive series alive with the victory, a feat they have not accomplished since the 2005 season.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 26, 2013


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