PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Sky Sox Come Back to Stun Storm Chasers

Published on May 14, 2013 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


Colorado Springs. Co - Ryan Wheeler scored the game-winning run to finish off a furious four-run ninth rally that vaulted Colorado Springs past Omaha, 7-6, Monday night in the third of a four-game set at Security Service Field. The Storm Chasers fell to 19-17 and missed the opportunity to reclaim sole possession of first place in the American Conference North Division after Memphis lost to Fresno for a third straight day. Johnny Giavotella had three hits to pace a 15-hit attack for the Chasers, who have piled up 27 runs on 50 hits in the first three games of the series but have won only once.

Michael Mariot was brought on in the ninth and charged with protecting a 6-3 lead but could not get through the frame. He gave up singles to Charlie Culberson and Corey Dickerson before D.J. LeMahieu doubled in both runners to draw the hosts within one and chase the right-hander from the mound. Everett Teaford was called on to face the lefty-swinging Ryan Wheeler, who spoiled the strategy by lining a double the other way to deliver LeMahieu with the tying run. After an intentional pass to Matt McBride, the Omaha southpaw walked Ben Paulsen to load the bases and set up the rather odd finish. Greg Golson then bounced a ground ball to third baseman Anthony Seratelli, who fielded and threw home but catcher Adam Moore did not have his foot on the plate allowing Wheeler to score the decisive marker. The Chasers had won all 12 of their previous games in which they had led after eight innings.

Francisley Bueno, making a spot start for the visitors, his first since the 2009 season when we was at the Triple-A level in the Atlanta organization, yielded a first inning run on a Wheeler ground out that plated Dickerson. The southpaw kept the hosts hitless until the fourth when they loaded the bases with three singles but he struck out Tyler Colvin and got Culberson to fly out to deep center to escape the jam and finish off his performance .

Colorado Springs starter Drew Carpenter allowed three hits, did not walk a batter, struck out a pair and set down the last 10 in his first start with the Sky Sox since being acquired by the Rockies last week. The outing was in stark contrast to his last appearance against the Storm Chasers on April 27 while pitching for the Iowa Cubs when he was knocked around for eight runs, seven earned, on nine hits over three innings. However, he did not figure in the decision after the bullpen could not hold onto a three-run lead.

Brian Sanches followed Bueno in the fifth but got himself into trouble immediately by issuing a leadoff walk to Tommy Manzella, who would come around to score after successive singles by LeMahieu and Wheeler to make it a 2-0 game. The runners pulled off a double steal in front of McBride's sacrifice fly that extended the margin to three. Sanches wound up working 3.2 innings and was charged with those two runs on four hits while fanning a pair in his first action since April 27.

Colorado Springs turned to Rob Scahill in the sixth and the right-hander gave up a one-out solo home run to Christian Colon, his third of the season, that was followed by a two-out single by Xavier Nady and a Max Ramirez double that pushed Nady to third. Seratelli singled in Nady to trim the deficit to 3-2 but Ramirez was cut down at the plate by Dickerson to end the inning. The Storm Chasers received run-scoring hits from David Lough and Giavotella along with a Colon sacrifice fly to open up a 5-3 lead in the seventh and added a run in the ninth on Giavotella's RBI single to move in front by three.

The series and road trip wrap up Tuesday night with Omaha right-hander Nate Adcock taking the hill against Colorado Springs right-hander Chris Volstad. Coverage of the game gets underway at 7:15 pm and can be heard locally on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and online at omahastormchasers.com.

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Pacific Coast League Stories from May 14, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central