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PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Tomko Pitches Gem for Omaha on 41st Birthday

April 7, 2014 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA, Neb. - Becoming the oldest player in Omaha franchise history at the age of 41, veteran starter Brett Tomko allowed only one run to a red-hot Memphis Redbirds (3-2) offense over six innings of work to lead the Omaha Storm Chasers (3-2) to a 3-2 victory. It was the fourth straight game for Omaha decided by a single run.

Tomko had not appeared in either the Major Leagues or Minor Leagues since September of 2012, spending the 2013 season in Independent ball, but limited Memphis to only four hits and did not let in any runs over his final five innings after allowing a first inning score. Tomko is the first pitcher to earn a victory over the age of 40 in the Pacific Coast League since Matt Herges did so for Omaha in 2010. The Storm Chasers are Tomko's eighth career PCL team he has pitched for, making him only the second player in PCL history to appear for that many teams (the other being Eddie Mulligan in 1919-1938).

The Storm Chasers offense did their part to secure the win registering double-digit hits in a third straight game, earning their second come-from-behind victory of the young season. First baseman Matt Fields sent a rocket down the right field line for his first career Triple-A homer to tie the game at 1-1 in the second inning, then Paulo Orlando knocked in his first run of 2014 in the same frame to give the Chasers a 2-1 advantage. Orlando led the Storm Chasers in RBI during the second half of last season (from July 1st on).

Jimmy Paredes also collected his first RBI of the season, and first as a member of the Storm Chasers, to stretch the lead in the 3rd inning to 3-1. After that Memphis kept the Omaha offense relatively quiet for the remainder of the night and pulled to within a run in the 7th. Right-hander Spencer Patton halted the Memphis comeback and earned his first Triple-A save pitching two innings of one-hit ball.

Tomorrow's game features an intriguing storyline as right-hander P.J. Walters gets the spot start for the Storm Chasers against his former team. Walters is the Memphis franchise leader in wins, strikeouts and starts while ranking second in career innings pitched in his four-year stint with the Redbirds from 2008-11. Walters will face off with righty Boone Whiting with first pitch at 6:35 p.m.

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