Albuquerque, NM - Wil Myers and Mitch Maier homered and combined to drive in seven runs while Donnie Joseph was sensational in 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief as Omaha demolished Albuquerque, 16-7, Sunday afternoon in the fifth and deciding game of the American Conference Championship Series. The Storm Chasers advanced to the PCL Championship Series for the second straight year and will defend their title against the Reno Aces, the Pacific Conference champions after they defeated Sacramento in Game 5 of that series. Omaha totaled 19 hits, drew 11 walks and scored in every inning but the sixth in claiming their first win-or-go home game since 1990.

Irving Falu started the contest and offensive onslaught with a lead off walk and a steal and remained at second base before Clint Robinson drew a two-out walk in front of Max Ramirez, who doubled to drive in both runners and boost his season RBI total against Albuquerque to 30. Ramirez then advanced to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate after a Maier single to finish off a rally that gave the Storm Chasers at least a 3-0 lead for the fourth time in the series.

The visitors followed up with another trio of runs in the second on Anthony Seratelli's sacrifice fly and a two-run long ball off the bat of Myers, who collected his first hit since the first game of the set. Albuquerque starter Will Savage was lifted after a Robinson single and ball one to Ramirez and replaced by Tim Corcoran, who retired Ramirez to end the inning. Savage was saddled with the loss after he was charged with six runs on five hits and three walks while recording only five outs.

Omaha added two more in the third when Adam Moore walked and scored on a triple by Jason Bourgeois, who then came home on a wild pitch, and another pair in the fourth when Maier slugged a two-out, two-run round-tripper to forge a 10-0 advantage. Corcoran was tagged for four runs on three hits and four walks in his two innings before giving way to Red Patterson, who got the last out in the fourth. The hosts got on the board when Josh Fields led off the bottom of the fourth with a home run, his second of the series. The Chasers responded in the next half inning with an RBI hit from Myers that plated Bourgeois.

Justin Marks opened the home fifth by hitting Matt Angle in retaliation for Patterson throwing at Falu in the top of the inning and that seemed to ignite the 'Topes. Angle moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Josh Bard base hit. Following a walk and an error that loaded the bases with one out, Fields singled home two to trim the lead to 11-4 and chase Marks from the hill after he had yielded five hits and a pair of free passes. Joseph came on and struck out Jerry Sands and Scott Van Slyke but a wild pitch allowed Dee Gordon to score to cut the lead to six before Trent Oeltjen fanned to end the frame.

The Chasers tacked on two more in the seventh against Erick Threets on a bases loaded walk to Ramirez and a Maier scoring fly ball and two more in the eighth on run-scoring hits by Seratelli and Clint Robinson, who picked up his first RBI of the series. Joseph recorded seven strikeouts and allowed just one hit before giving way to Brandon Sisk to open the eighth. The left-hander gave up a run on an Angle ground out and was followed in the ninth by Juan Gutierrez, who surrendered a run before getting Van Slyke to fly out to Myers in center field to end the game and series.

Omaha will open the PCL Championship Series on the road Tuesday night with right-hander Jake Odorizzi taking the mound against Reno right-hander Trevor Bauer. Coverage of the game gets underway at 8:45 pm and can be heard locally on 1180 Zone Two, The Deuce and online at omahastormchasers.com.