PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Lough Leads Chasers Past Sounds

Published on April 18, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA, Neb. - Outfielder David Lough made the most of his first start of the season in centerfield and in the leadoff role, sparking the Storm Chasers' offense to an 8-3 win over Nashville in a Monday matinee at Werner Park in front of 6,580 fans.

Lough, who has spent most of the year batting in the two-hole, tripled in the first inning, doubled in two runs in a six-run second and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth. That was enough support for Omaha starting pitcher Jeff Suppan (1-2), who bounced back from a three-run first inning to earn his first victory of the season.

Second baseman Johnny Giavotella played a key role for the Chasers offense, plus turned in a "Web Gem" worthy defensive play in the third. After Suppan walked leadoff man Brandon Boggs to start the third, Sounds' first baseman Mat Gamel ripped a hard grounder up the middle to Giavotella's right. In one motion, Giavotella snared the ball on a full-extension dive, flipped it from his glove to the bare hand of shortstop Lance Zawadzki coming across the second base bag for one, with the relay to first in time to complete the double play.

At the plate, the 5-foot-8 sparkplug singled three times in five at-bats, scored a pair of runs and drove in one as well. The performance raised his batting average to .326, four points higher than the .322 number he posted at Double-A Northwest Arkansas a season ago.

First baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and designated hitter Clint Robinson each drove in runs as well, giving Omaha its first game of more than five runs since their season-opening series against Albuquerque.

The Chasers' righthanded bullpen tandem of Luis Mendoza and Louis Coleman also provided some fireworks, striking out seven batters over the final four innings. Coleman struck out the side in the eighth and added two more punchouts in the ninth, giving the Mississippi native 16 Ks in just seven innings pitched this season.

Omaha (5-7) now turns its attention to the Memphis Redbirds (4-7), who just completed a rain-shortened series in Des Moines against the Iowa Cubs in which they won one out of three games. The clubs will begin their four-game series on Tuesday at Werner Park, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 p.m. between Omaha lefthander Everett Teaford and Memphis righthander Brandon Dickson.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 18, 2011


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