Pounders Leads Chasers to 4th Straight Win

NEW ORLEANS - Brooks Pounders didn't have his best stuff, but he fought his way to a successful outing, and the Storm Chasers pulled away late for a 6-1 win on Saturday night at Zephyr Field.

The victory was Omaha's 4^th in a row, and their 7^th in 9 games. They're now 7-3 on the season.

Pounders (2-0) fought his command at points, but battled his way through 5+ innings. He allowed 1 run on 6 hits, with 2 strikeouts and 1 walk. He threw 86 pitches (47 for strikes).

Omaha jumped out to a 1^st inning lead again, as Jarrod Dyson led off the game with a single against Zephyrs starter Ivan Pineyro (0-2), advanced to 2^nd on a wild pitch, stole 3^rd, and scored on Cheslor Cuthbert's RBI double. Later in the inning, Balbino Fuenmayor knocked in Brett Eibner with a sacrifice fly, making it 2-0.

New Orleans responded with a tally in the bottom of the 1^st. Don Kelly singled, and with 1 out, Xavier Scruggs doubled him home to cut Omaha's lead in half.

But the Chasers got it right back in the 2^nd on a sacrifice fly by Whit Merrifield, which scored Parker Morin, who had singled and advanced to 3^rd on a double by Clint Barmes.

Pineyro then settled into the game for New Orleans. He pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits with 5 strikeouts and 2 walks.

New Orleans threatened in the bottom of the 6^th; singles by Austin Nola and Kenny Wilson ended Pounders' night, with LHP Brian Flynn summoned out of the bullpen. Flynn struck out Don Kelly, and then issued a walk to Xavier Scruggs to load the bases. Flynn then worked the count full to Cole Gillespie, before striking him out swinging. With 2 out, Destin Hood hit a ground ball to deep short, but SS Dusty Coleman made a backhanded pickup and a strong throw to 2^nd for a force out, ending the inning.

And in the 8^th, the Chasers made the game safe, scoring 3 times. With 1 out, Eibner singled; Cuthbert hit an apparent double play grounder to 2^nd, but Austin Nola had the ball go through his legs for a critical error. Omaha immediately capitalized, as Fuenmayor singled to drive home Eibner, and Jorge Bonifacio doubled to score Cuthbert. Later in the inning, Fuenmayor scored on a wild pitch, making it 6-1.

Mark Peterson (LHP) made his AAA debut for Omaha, and earned the save, working the final 3 innings without allowing a run.

The Storm Chasers will continue their four-game road series in New Orleans tomorrow at 1:00. RHP Miguel Almonte (0-2, 7.20) will pitch for Omaha, while the Zephyrs will throw RHP Justin Nicolino (2-0, 2.25).

Omaha returns to Werner Park on Saturday, April 23rd to begin an eight-game homestand that will feature the Colorado Sky Sox and Oklahoma City Dodgers.