The Arrival of the Balbino
July 4, 2015 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
Oklahoma City, OK - Balbino Fuenmayor made an immediate impact in his first Triple-A game in support of six solid innings from John Lamb, as Omaha downed Oklahoma City, 7-4, Saturday night In the opener of a four-game set in front of 11,920 at Bricktown Ballpark. The Storm Chasers improved to 44-39 and moved to within ten games of the division leaders in the American Conference North.
Jose Martinez, playing in his first game in a month after being sidelined by injury, tripled in a run in the top of the ninth inning to give the visitors a seemingly comfortable 7-3 edge. Austin Barnes opened the home half with a home run to account for the final margin, though the Dodgers would not go quietly. A one-out double by O'Koyea Dickson and a two-out walk to Buck Britton brought the tying run to the plate and chased Louis Coleman from the hill after two innings of work. Scott Alexander was brought on to face Darnell Sweeney and retired the Pacific Coast League All-Star on a comebacker to register his team-leading seventh save, extend his scoreless streak to 18 2/3 innings and sew up Omaha's 12th victory in the 14 games started by Lamb.
The Storm Chasers struck first in the second inning on a two-run home run from Brett Eibner, his ninth of the season and first since June 2, before OKC countered in the bottom of the frame with a run-producing double by Andy Wilkins, his first hit in 14 at-bats against Omaha this season. Lamb picked off two runners to help minimize what could have been a more damaging rally.
Three singles loaded the bases for the Chasers with one out in the third before Fuenmayor cleared them with a double in his second Triple-A at-bat to extend the lead to 5-1. An unearned run in the sixth lengthened the margin to five against Deck McGuire, who took the loss after permitting nine hits and striking out five over his six innings on the mound.
Lamb became the league's first nine-game winner after yielding a lone run on four hits while walking one and fanning six. Matt Murray took over in the seventh and was touched up for a pair of runs, including an RBI hit by Wilkins, that brought the hosts within 6-3.
The series continues Sunday evening with Omaha sending Kansas City Royals right-hander Kris Medlen to the mound for a rehab start against OKC left-hander Erik Surkamp. Coverage gets underway with the Metropolitan Community College pre-game show at 5:45 pm and can be heard on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and online at omahastormchasers.com.
Pacific Coast League Stories from July 4, 2015
- Storm Chasers Open Series with 7-4 Win Crowd of 11,920 on hand at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark Satur - Oklahoma City Comets
- Chihuahuas Win 8-6 on Independence Day - El Paso Chihuahuas
- Urena, Zephyrs' Offense Fly by Iowa 7-0 - Iowa Cubs
- Sounds Score Three in the Tenth, Win 7-4 - Nashville Sounds
- The Arrival of the Balbino - Omaha Storm Chasers
- Express welcomes 3rd largest crowd in franchise history; 10 millionth fan expected tomorrow - Round Rock Express
- Nola Makes Himself at Home in Urena's Gem - New Orleans Baby Cakes
- Salt Lake Hosts El Paso on Fourth of July - Salt Lake Bees
- Reno Aces Game Information: Sacramento River Cats (36-46) at Reno Aces (38-44) - Reno Aces
- Chicago Cubs Select Contract of C Taylor Teagarden - Iowa Cubs
- OKC Dodgers Game Notes - July 4, 2015 - Oklahoma City Comets
- Big Ninth Gives Bees a Big Win - Salt Lake Bees
- Bees' Ninth-Inning Rally Stings River Cats in Finale - Sacramento River Cats
- Rainiers Pulverize Las Vegas, 12-7 Steve Baron hits first Triple-A home run, collects four RBI - Tacoma Rainiers
- Fresno Gets Series Win In El Paso Thanks To Big Ninth Inning - Fresno Grizzlies
- Four-Run Ninth Inning Gives Fresno 9-5 Win Friday - El Paso Chihuahuas
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