Chasers Drop Game 2, Series Now Tied 1-1

Go-ahead run scores on 9th inning wild pitch in 4-3 defeat

By Andrew Mitchell

September 4, 2014

OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha Storm Chasers (1-1) rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game, but costly mistakes in the top of the ninth dropped the series to a 1-1 tie with the Memphis Redbirds (1-1) after a 4-3 defeat. The series shifts to AutoZone Park in Memphis for Games 3-5 this Friday, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary).

After John Lamb lasted only four innings allowing three runs, Clayton Mortensen came on in the fifth and did not allow a hit until his 14^th batter faced in the ninth. That batter was Greg Garcia, and his steal attempt plus a throwing error by Brett Hayes on the play set up the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Mortensen. Omaha could not tie up the game despite loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning, as Brian Bocock struck out looking and Paulo Orlando grounded into a force out to snap Omaha's four-game home winning streak in the PCL Playoffs.

Pedro Ciriaco and Whit Merrifield keyed the Omaha comeback, as Ciriaco got them on the board in the fourth on a RBI double and Whit Merrifield tied the game in the seventh on a solo homer. It was Merrifield's second straight game with a long ball, only the second time in his career he has pulled off that feat with the other in 2012 while with Advanced-A Wilmington. Earlier in the day, Merrifield was named Omaha's Player of the Year by the Kansas City Royals with 109 hits in 76 games.

Omaha failed to go up 2-0 after winning the series opener for only the second time in six occurrences since joining the Pacific Coast League. The Storm Chasers have lost two of their three PCL Playoffs series when it is tied at 1-1, but that one series win was also the only time they went on the road after the first two games (2012 against Albuquerque).

In Game 3 at AutoZone Park, RHP Sugar Ray Marimon (5-4, 3.56 ERA) will make his first appearance for the Storm Chasers since June 30 as he has battled injury this season. He will face off with Redbirds RHP Boone Whiting (4-7, 4.19 ERA), with first pitch on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and MiLB.TV from Memphis is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.