PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Vitters Sends Cubs into 1st Place

Published on July 1, 2014 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


Des Moines, IA - Josh Vitters singled in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift Iowa to a 7-6 walk-off win over Omaha and into first place Monday night in the opener of a crucial five-game set at Principal Park. The Storm Chasers dipped to 44-39 and fell a half-game behind the Cubs and out of the top spot in American Conference North Division for the first time since June 12.

Spencer Patton recorded the last two outs in the seventh inning and took the hill in the eighth protecting Omaha's 5-2 advantage but walked the first two hitters and was lifted in favor of former Cub Casey Coleman, who spent parts of five different seasons in Iowa. The Chasers third right-hander of the night got the first out of the frame before walking Javy Baez to fill the bases and then striking out Chris Valaika on three pitches. Bryant strode to the plate and slammed a 1-0 offering over the wall in dead center field for a grand slam to vault the Cubs into the lead for the first time.

Blake Parker came on to try to close it out but couldn't slam the door shut for the first time in 18 save opportunities. Brian Bocock drew a two-out walk, moved to second base on a Johnny Giavotella single and scored the tying run on a Matt Fields base hit. Coleman worked a scoreless bottom of the ninth and was replaced in the decisive frame by Wilking Rodriguez, the visitors fourth righty of the game. Baez opened the frame with a double and was pushed to third base on a Valaika sacrifice bunt. Following intentional passes to Bryant and Logan Watkins to load the bases and set up a righty-righty matchup as well as force plays at every base, Vitters laced a line drive into right field to deliver Baez with the winning run.

The visitors flexed their muscle in the second inning, as Carlos Peguero walloped a three-run home run and Francisco Pena followed by launching a solo shot to make it 4-0 and take over the team lead with his 13th long ball of the season. I-Cubs starter Carlos Pimentel settled down and allowed only one hit over the next three innings to close his five frames allowing four hits while walking two and striking out eight.

Omaha starter Sugar Ray Marimon yielded five singles and allowed only one runner to advance past first base in blanking the home side through six innings. Bryant reached second base with one out in the seventh on a dropped fly ball, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Manny Ramirez, playing in his second game as a member of the Cubs, drilled a home run just to the right of straightaway center to halve the lead and knock Marimon out of the game after he had allowed six hits and struck out four.

The series continues with a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday. Omaha right-hander Louis Coleman will get the start in the opener and right-hander Clay Mortensen will take the hill in the nightcap while the Cubs will offer up right-hander Kyle Hendricks in the first game with their starter in the second game still to be decided upon. Coverage of the opener gets underway at 11:45 am and at 6:45 pm for the nightcap 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 July 1, 2014


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