Omaha tops Zephyrs in 10 innings

The New Orleans Zephyrs and Omaha Royals split their second consecutive series, as the Royals defeated the Z's 2-1 in 10 innings on Wednesday afternoon.

Gookie Dawkins extended his hit streak to 10 games and plated the Zephyrs' lone run of the game in the bottom of the second inning, lacing a RBI double into the left-center field gap. Dawkins finished the game going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles.

The Royals evened the score in the top of the fifth when former Zephyr Jai Miller scored on a sacrifice fly by Irving Falu.

The score remained deadlocked into extra innings, when the Royals loaded the bases in the 10th against Z's reliever Adalberto Mendez (3-2), before Kila Ka'aihue lifted a sacrifice fly to provide the game-winning run.

NOLA starter Sean West pitched his longest outing of the 2010 season, allowing one run over seven innings, surrendering four hits and three walks while striking out four.

Omaha starter Luis Mendoza allowed one run on six hits and two walks over five innings, as former LSU star Louis Coleman earned the first Triple-A win of his career, surrendering just two hits over two scoreless innings.

The Zephyrs now travel to Iowa to take on the I-Cubs in a five-game series before the All-Star Break. Righty Tom Mastny (2-0, 1.61) will take the hill for New Orleans on Thursday against Iowa right-handed pitcher Casey Coleman (7-7, 4.29).