PCL1 New Orleans Baby Cakes

Omaha Rallies Late to Spoil Zephyrs' Opener

Published on April 10, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
New Orleans Baby Cakes News Release


Reymond Fuentes started a ninth-inning rally with a leadoff single, and later delivered a tiebreaking two-run single in the top of the 10th as the Omaha Storm Chasers spoiled the New Orleans Zephyrs' season opener, 10-6 on Thursday night.

The Zephyrs carried a 6-5 lead into the ninth inning, but Fuentes singled off Nick Masset, then stole second and scored one out later on a single by Moises Sierra.

Controversy marred the extra frame, as Zephyrs manager Andy Haines was ejected for arguing a pair of illegal pitches called against reliever Carter Capps (0-1) to begin the inning. Capps was removed after walking Orlando Calixte on four pitches, and after Grant Dayton loaded the bases on two walks (one intentional), Fuentes looped a single past a drawn-in infield to put the Storm Chasers on top.

A wild pitch by Dayton plated another run, and Brett Eibner's second double of the game boosted the lead to four runs.

Louis Coleman (1-0) allowed a single in the bottom of the inning before recording the final three outs to pick up the win.

New Orleans piled up 19 hits in the game to equal their season high from all of last year, but went 3-for-17 with runners in scoring position, stranded 14 baserunners and had four more thrown out on the basepaths.

Highly-touted left-hander Justin Nicolino was charged with four runs - two earned - on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in his Triple-A debut. He struck out three without issuing a walk and exited in the fifth inning with the Zephyrs trailing 4-2.

Still trailing by two in the seventh, the Z's rallied for three runs to take the lead. J.T. Realmuto led off with a single, one of his four hits on the night, and scored on a double into the right-center field gap by Derek Dietrich, one of three other Zephyrs to collect three hits.

Although Dietrich was thrown out on the play tying for a triple, the Zephyrs took advantage of a two-out error by third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert to keep the inning alive for Miguel Rojas, who ripped a single up the middle to even the score. Another Storm Chasers misplay, this time by shortstop Calixte, allowed Austin Wates to trot home with the go-ahead run.

The loss was the first for the Zephyrs in their last six home openers.

New Orleans will look to rebound on Friday at 7 p.m. by sending right-hander Jose Urena to the mound, also making his Triple-A debut. Omaha will counter with veteran right-hander Joe Blanton.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 10, 2015


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