PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Storm Chasers Dig the Long Ball

Published on April 16, 2015 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


Memphis, TN - Brett Eibner clubbed a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, to power Omaha to a 9-4 triumph over Memphis Thursday night in the last of an abbreviated three-game set at AutoZone Park. The Storm Chasers return home having won five out of seven in Louisiana and Tennessee, marking the third time since they joined the Pacific Coast League in 1998 that the franchise claimed five victories during a season-opening road trip.

Eibner blasted a two-run shot in the third inning that snapped a 1-1 tie and put the Chasers ahead to stay. Cheslor Cuthbert added a lead-off long ball in the fourth before a foul pop up sacrifice fly off the bat of Jose Martinez chased home Francisco Pena later in the frame to make it a 5-1 contest.

Joe Blanton kept the hosts to that single marker on three hits through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Xavier Scruggs doubled home a run with two outs that trimmed the lead to three and ended the night for the veteran right-hander, who allowed five hits, walked two and fanned six. Joe Paterson took over and was greeted by Greg Garcia's two-run single that shaved the Omaha advantage to 5-4 and closed the book on Blanton, who grabbed the win. The trio of Paterson, Chris Dwyer and Michael Mariot blanked the Redbirds the rest of the way for the visitors, who have yielded the fewest runs of any team in the league through the first eight days of the season.

Memphis starter Tim Cooney was lifted in the seventh following a one-out walk to Martinez and absorbed the loss after being charged with six runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out three. Nick Greenwood came on and gave up a base hit to Gabriel Noriega and walked Matt Fields with two outs in front of Eibner, who put the game out of reach with his third home run of the season. The 26-year-old outfielder had a game against Memphis last season in which he drove in nine runs.

The Storm Chasers return to Werner Park for their Home Opener on Friday night with right-hander Christian Binford getting the starting assignment against New Orleans righty Andre Rienzo. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:45 pm and can be heard locally on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and online at omahastormchasers.com.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from April 16, 2015


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