Mendoza Flirts With No-Hitter in Chasers' Win
Published on July 10, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
Oklahoma City, OK - Luis Mendoza threw seven no-hit innings as Omaha subdued Oklahoma City, 7-1, Saturday night in the third of a four-game set at Bricktown Ballpark. The Storm Chasers stopped a two-game slide to lift their record to 49-41 and increase their lead over Memphis to 1 1/2 games in the American Conference North Division after the Redbirds fell at Round Rock.
Mendoza opened the eighth inning by issuing a walk to the leadoff man J.R. Towles, his fourth of the night. Anderson Hernandez then looped a base hit into right-center field to spoil the no-hit bid and spell the end of the evening for the All-Star right-hander. Luis Aquino was the last Omaha hurler to author a no-hitter on June 20, 1988.
Third baseman Irving Falu made two sensational defensive plays at third base in the first four innings to help keep the RedHawks hitless while Mendoza helped his own cause by initiating an inning-ending double play in the sixth.
Mendoza was charged with one unearned run on the lone hit he allowed while striking out five to earn his sixth win of the season. Ironically, the last no-hitter thrown in the PCL was by Mendoza on August 14, 2009 when he was with OKC as a member of the Texas Rangers organization. Jeremy Jeffress tossed two hitless, scoreless innings to close out the victory as Omaha evened its road record at 23-23.
Falu's two-out single in the second inning brought home Kila Ka'aihue with the game's first run and things stayed that way until the visitors tallied six times in the fifth to break the game open.
David Lough delivered a two-run bases loaded single that was followed by a Clint Robinson RBI single that lengthened the lead to 4-0. Mike Aviles then lined an RBI double before a Kila Ka'aihue sacrifice fly that pushed the advantage to six and chased OKC starter Gustavo Chacin from the hill.
The series wraps up Sunday afternoon with Omaha right-hander Vin Mazzaro taking the mound against Oklahoma City right-hander Nelson Figueroa. Coverage of the game gets underway at 3:45 p.m. and can be heard locally on KOIL AM 1180 and online at omahastormchasers.com.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 10, 2011
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