Nashville Sounds lose to Omaha Storm Chasers 5-3

Nashville Sounds Baseball

Papillion, NE – The Omaha Storm Chasers beat the Nashville Sounds, 5-3, behind seven strong innings from starter Ryner Verdugo on Saturday night at Werner Park in the opener of a four-game series.

The loss eliminated the Sounds from the playoff contention and gave the Storm Chasers their second consecutive PCL American Conference Northern Division title.

Designated hitter Jordan Brown, shortstop Jeff Bianchi, outfielder Caleb Gindl, and catcher Humberto Quintero all had two hits. Outfielder Khris Davis (0-for-4) snapped an eight-game hitting streak, but drove in a run for the 20th time in 27 games. Outfielder Logan Shafer also went hitless to snap his seven-game hitting streak.

Verdugo (11-3) allowed one run on seven hits and a walk while striking out seven for the victory. Omaha third baseman Anthony Seratelli led the Storm Chasers offense, by going 4-for-4 with a run scored.

The Sounds have all lost five contests at Werner Park this season and dropped 21 of their last 31 contests against Omaha, dating back to 2010.

Omaha scored its first two runs in the fourth inning, beginning with a leadoff double from Clint Robinson. With runners on first and third, Adam Moore hit an RBI single, followed by a sacrifice by Rey Navarro. Derrick Robinson then hit an RBI groundout to third.

Nashville got a run back in the next frame. Bianchi and Gindl had one-out singles before Quintero smacked an RBI double to right field.

The Storm Chasers tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh for a 5-1 advantage, highlighted by four straight singles to open the inning and a costly error by first baseman Sean Halton.

The Sounds scored their final two runs in the eighth to trail by a score 5-3, stranding the tying run at the plate. Schafer began by working an inning-opening walk to remove Verdugo from the game and promptly moved to third on a double from second baseman Eric Farris.  Davis was responsible for the first run with an RBI groundout before Brown hammered an RBI single to center.

Nashville starter Tyler Thornburg (1-1) gave up two runs on four hits in four innings in the loss. The 23-year-old tossed 79 pitches (49 strikes) on the night, and was a victim of a 34-pitch opening frame.

Reliever Amaury Rivas pitched two scoreless frames. Tim Dillard was charged with three runs (two earned) without recording an out. Juan Perez closed it out with two shutout innings.

The Sounds and Storm Chasers continue their series at 2:05pm CT on Sunday afternoon at Werner Park. Right-hander Hiram Burgos (0-1, 4.24) takes the mound for Nashville against Omaha right-hander Jake Odorizzi (7-4, 2.92).

Box Score

Omaha Storm Chasers (76-52) 5, Nashville Sounds (59-69) 3
August 18th, 2012

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Nashville Sounds	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	3	10	1
Omaha Storm Chasers	0	0	0	2	0	0	3	0	x	5	10	0

Nashville	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Schafer, CF	3	1	0	0	1	1	2	.273
Farris, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	0	2	.272
Davis, Kh, LF	4	0	0	1	0	1	1	.314
Brown, J, DH	4	0	2	1	0	2	0	.306
Halton, 1B	4	0	0	0	0	2	2	.265
Green, T, 3B	4	0	1	0	0	1	1	.267
Bianchi, SS	4	1	2	0	0	1	0	.312
Gindl, RF	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	.245
Quintero, C	4	0	2	1	0	1	1	.246
Thornburg, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Rivas, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Dillard, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Perez, J, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	35	3	10	3	1	9	9	.256
BATTING 2B: Quintero (4, Verdugo), Farris (16, Mazzaro). 3B: Gindl (4, Verdugo). TB: Farris 2; Quintero 3; Brown, J 2; Bianchi 2; Gindl 4; Green, T. RBI: Quintero (14), Davis, Kh (18), Brown, J (34). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Farris 2; Quintero. Team RISP: 2-for-6. Team LOB: 6.BASERUNNING CS: Green, T (2, 3rd base by Verdugo/Moore). FIELDING E: Halton (7, throw). DP: 2 (Farris-Halton, Bianchi-Farris-Halton).

 

 

Omaha	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Falu, SS	5	1	1	0	0	0	2	.324
Maier, 1B	4	1	1	0	0	1	0	.260
Seratelli, 3B	4	1	4	0	0	0	0	.310
Myers, CF	3	0	1	1	1	1	2	.294
Robinson, C, DH	2	1	1	0	2	0	1	.297
Lough, RF	3	1	0	0	0	2	5	.277
Moore, C	4	0	1	1	0	2	0	.247
Navarro, 2B	2	0	1	0	1	0	0	.500
Robinson, D, LF	4	0	0	1	0	0	3	.275
Verdugo, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Mazzaro, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	31	5	10	3	4	6	13	.290
BATTING 2B: Robinson, C (32, Thornburg). TB: Moore; Robinson, C 2; Myers; Falu; Navarro; Maier; Seratelli 4. RBI: Moore (22), Robinson, D (26), Myers (68). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Lough 3; Falu 2. SAC: Lough; Navarro. GIDP: Robinson, C. Team RISP: 3-for-9. Team LOB: 8.BASERUNNING SB: Navarro (1, 2nd base off Perez, J/Quintero). FIELDING Outfield assists: Lough (Quintero at 2nd base).

 

 

Nashville	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Thornburg (L, 1-1)	4.0	4	2	2	2	3	0	2.25
Rivas	2.0	1	0	0	2	1	0	5.11
Dillard	0.0	4	3	2	0	0	0	9.22
Perez, J	2.0	1	0	0	0	2	0	3.63
Totals	8.0	10	5	4	4	6	0	4.39

 

Omaha	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Verdugo (W, 11-3)	7.0	7	2	2	1	7	0	3.46
Mazzaro	2.0	3	1	1	0	2	0	3.68
Totals	9.0	10	3	3	1	9	0	4.04

Dillard pitched to 4 batters in the 7th.
Verdugo pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

IBB: Robinson, C (by Rivas).
Pitches-strikes: Thornburg 79-49, Rivas 40-21, Dillard 7-5, Perez, J 30-19, Verdugo 104-69, Mazzaro 28-19.
Groundouts-flyouts: Thornburg 7-2, Rivas 1-1, Dillard 0-0, Perez, J 2-1, Verdugo 6-6, Mazzaro 3-0.
Batters faced: Thornburg 19, Rivas 8, Dillard 4, Perez, J 6, Verdugo 28, Mazzaro 8.
Inherited runners-scored: Perez, J 2-1, Mazzaro 1-1.
Umpires: HP: Brett Robson. 1B: Clint Fagan. 3B: Nick Bailey.
Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy.
Wind: 8 mph, In from CF.
T: 2:47.
Att: 8,308.