PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Teagarden's Homer Party Taxes Chasers

Published on August 30, 2011 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA, Neb. - Round Rock catcher Taylor Teagarden belted two solo home runs, leading the Express past the Storm Chasers 3-2 Tuesday night at Werner Park. The Chasers put the tying run into scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings but were unable to score the equalizer.

The result of the game was overshadowed moments later, when the Albuquerque Isotopes defeated the Memphis Redbirds 7-3. The loss by Memphis reduced the Storm Chasers' Magic Number to two in order to clinch the American Conference Northern Division, with six games remaining.

Omaha got off to a slow start, falling behind in the top of the second after running themselves out of the first. With one out, Teagarden smacked a 3-0 delivery from starting and losing pitcher Mike Montgomery (5-10) out of the yard, his first of two solo shots on the night. Montgomery then walked No. 9 hitter Guilder Rodriguez, and one out later Andres Blanco ripped an RBI double to the gap in left-center to make it 2-0 in favor of the Express.

The Chasers mounted a rally in the fourth, but even as they scored they suffered a baserunning miscue. After Lance Zawadzki and Irving Falu pulled off a double-steal to put runners on second and third with one out, Yamaico Navarro chopped a ball toward short. Zawadzki came home easily on the play, but Falu ran into an out at third to take himself out of scoring position.

Montgomery would only complete one out in the fifth, as the 22-year-old left-hander ran his pitch count to 93 before giving way to Robinson Tejeda. Montgomery allowed two runs on six hits in 4.1 innings pitched, walking one while striking out six.

Tejeda cruised through his 2.2 innings, allowing just one blemish - Teagarden's second long ball of the game, his fifth this year against Omaha and 12th of the season. The opposite-field drive gave the Express a 3-1 advantage they would never surrender. Brandon Sisk recorded the final six outs for the Storm Chasers, striking out three and lowering his ERA to 1.45.

The Chasers lone additional run came in the eighth, when an infield grounder by David Lough plated Joaquin Arias, aboard with his second double of the night. Jarrod Dyson advanced to second on the play, but Lorenzo Cain grounded out to end the threat. Cain went 0-for-4 to lose his 13-game hitting streak.

Round Rock starter Zach Jackson (12-5) earned the victory, firing 7.2 innings of two-run baseball. He allowed eight hits, walked one and struck out five while using 98 pitches. Merkin Valdez completed the final 1.1 innings to earn his eighth save of the year, escaping both late jams. In the ninth, he survived a Falu double by retiring Navarro on a roller to second base to end the game.

Right-hander Luis Mendoza (11-5, 2.15) will try to ride his pitching success to what could be a division championship Wednesday night, when he takes on right-hander Eric Hurley of Round Rock (8-2, 4.76). With an Omaha win and a Memphis loss, the Storm Chasers would be playoff-bound for the first time since 1999. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from August 30, 2011


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