PAPILLION, NEB. – A late rally came up just short as the Omaha Storm Chasers dropped game two of three this week against the Iowa Cubs 4-3 on Tuesday at Werner Park.
Iowa struck first for the second straight night as a walk and a steal put a runner in scoring position and a double to right center field plated the first run of the game for the I-Cubs. After a single put runners at the corners, a groundout to first baseman Nick Pratto crossed another one home for a 2-0 Iowa lead at the end of two innings.
Omaha’s offense struggled in the first five innings as the Chasers were held scoreless with just one hit to begin the game. Storm Chasers starting pitcher Andrew Hoffmann allowed just the two runs, but retired his final seven hitters and 11 of his final 12, with a season-high eight strikeouts to end his night. John McMillon took over in the top of the sixth and promptly allowed a solo homer to Matt Mervis, but retired his next three batters as Iowa led 3-0 midway through the sixth.
Then the Chasers came alive in the bottom of the sixth inning as John Rave led off the inning with a single and with one out, Pratto hit his 11th homer to right field and put Omaha’s first runs on the board to cut the I-Cubs lead to 3-2 after six innings.
McMillon put the first batter of the seventh on base and got the first out, before handing the ball to Evan Sisk. Sisk allowed a single to the first batter he saw, but worked out of the inning without trouble, as a bunt back to the mound turned into a 1-2-5-3-8-5 fielder’s choice double play to end the frame, with two Iowa runners tagged out between third base and home plate to end the inning.
Sisk got the first out of the eighth inning, then Will Klein took the and retired the next two outs to finish the inning. Klein finished the game on the mound for Omaha and allowed a solo homer to B.J. Murray Jr. with one out in the top of the ninth, moving Iowa’s lead to 4-2 over the Chasers.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Omaha had one last chance as Rave belted his 14th homer of the season to right field and moved the score to 4-3. After Nate Eaton walked and stole second to get in scoring position, Pratto struck out and ended the game as Iowa came out on top 4-3 for the final.
With Independence Day on Thursday, the Storm Chasers celebrate the annual holiday and continue this week’s series against the Cubs Wednesday, July 3 as first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. CT and right-handed pitcher Jonathan Bowlan takes the mound for Omaha.
