Omaha Holds Down RedHawks in Game One Win

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Omaha Storm Chasers won the opener of the American Conference Championship by a score of 3-1 against the Oklahoma City RedHawks at Bricktown Ballpark to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Omaha has now won three consecutive postseason openers, and are 7-2 in road games during the last three PCL Playoffs.

Right-hander Brian Sanches made the start for the Storm Chasers in place of Yordano Ventura, who was a late scratch, and the veteran tossed 5.2 scoreless innings against his former team for his second longest scoreless outing of the season. Sanches is 6-0 in seven starts since the start of July, and has allowed only five earned runs in 40.2 innings in those starts (1.11 ERA).

Christian Colon provided the offensive output in his first ever playoff game for the Chasers as he doubled in a run in the sixth to make the lead 2-0 and hit a solo homer in the ninth to provide a pivotal insurance run after Oklahoma City had cut the lead to 2-1. Colon led the team with 58 RBI during the regular season and hit a career high 12 long balls.

Right-handed reliever Michael Mariot picked up right where he left off at the end of the 2013 regular season by spinning three shutout innings to pick up his first career PCL postseason save. Mariot has now gone 24.0 inning without allowing an earned run, a span of 15 appearances dating back to July 27.

In Game 2 of the American Conference Championship, the Omaha Storm Chasers will send out recently acquired right-hander Clay Mortensen, who will face off with fellow right-hander David Martinez. First pitch from Bricktown Ballpark is set for 7:05 p.m. and coverage on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and www.omahastormchasers.com will kick off at 6:45 p.m.