PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Omaha Storm Chasers July 7th Game Notes

Published on July 7, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


YESTERDAY'S WIN: The Storm Chasers snapped their four-game home losing streak (which was a season high and one shy of the most at Werner Park) as they took the series finale from the Sky Sox by a score of 7-2. Clayton Mortensen posted another solid start (has not allowed more than two runs in any of his six starts this season), and the right-hander has the second best ERA (1.64) in the PCL since he joined Omaha on May 28 (Jimmy Nelson at 1.37).

I-80 RIVALRY: The Iowa Cubs come to town to reignite the I-80 rivalry, and in their three years playing at Werner Park they are the only team with more than ten games played at the ballpark that own a winning record (13-11). The 3-5 mark Omaha posted against Iowa last year at home was their second worst against any conference opponent (2-6 vs Memphis last year).

CLOSE SERIES: All eight games between Iowa and Omaha this season have been decided by three runs or less (including six of the last seven decided by two runs or less). Dating back to 2013, the last 14 games in the I-80 rivalry have been decided by three or less (including six one- run games). In the last two years 19 of the last 24 have been decided by three runs or less.

FLIP-FLOPPED: On June 18, Omaha was tied for the best record in the league at 41-31, while Iowa was in third place in the division at 5.5 games back with a 34-35 record.Just three weeks later, Iowa has the best record in the American Conference at 48-41 (3rd best record in the PCL behind Sacramento and Las Vegas) and Omaha is in third place in the division at 2.5 games back. Omaha has the worst fewest PCL wins in that time at five, Iowa has the most at 14.

HAVING A FIELDS DAY: Matt Fields collected his fourth multi-homer game this season, which accounts for half of the eight by Chasers batters this season and leads the Pacific Coast League. His 15 homers are tied for fifth most in the league with six other players (including teammate Francisco Pena). Fields had only six multi-homer games before the 2014 season and never had more than two in one year. His 49 RBI leads the team (a mark that only two players had more than last year for Omaha: Christian Colon at 58 RBI and Max Ramirez at 55 RBI).

WHIT GETS IT: Whit Merrifield has a hit in 19 of his last 21 games, and during that stretch dating back to June 13 he has the second most hits in the league at 37 (Iowa's Arismendy Alcantara has 38 hits), which is 11 more than anyone else on the Chasers in the last month (Jimmy Paredes at 26). Merrifield is batting .392 (29-for-74) in the leadoff spot for Omaha.

BASE CHASERS: Omaha leads all of Triple-A with 98 steals, and with two more stolen bases they will total 100 or more steals for the fourth consecutive season. Only four teams in the PCL (Omaha, Oklahoma City, Reno, Salt Lake) have had 100+ steals in each of the 2011-2013 seasons.

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics

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Pacific Coast League Stories from July 7, 2014


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