PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers fell in the series finale to the St. Paul Saints, losing 4-3 Sunday afternoon at Werner Park to drop the series four games to two, just the team’s fourth series loss of the season.
The Chasers got on the board early with a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning as John Rave led off the frame with a double. After Rave reached third on a sac bunt from Ryan Fitzgerald and Drew Waters walked and stole for second base, Nate Eaton hit a soft single between third and shortstop that scored Rave. Nelson Velázquez followed with the second double of the inning and plated Waters and Eaton for three-run lead.
Starting pitcher Austin Cox and Anthony Simonelli combined to deal four hitless scoreless innings to start the game and with five strikeouts, four from Simonelli.
The Saints scored four runs in the top of the fifth to bring the score to 3-2, with their first three hits off the day, off Omaha reliver Jonathan Bowlan.
While Angel Zerpa struck out three in a scoreless sixth, St. Paul surged ahead in the seventh off three more hits against Eric Cerantola for a 4-3 lead.
Andrew Hoffmann and Evan Sisk each pitched a scoreless inning, but the Chasers were retired 10 in a row to end the game, with 16 of Omaha’s final 17 hitters set down to close out the afternoon.
With Monday off, the Storm Chasers will hit the road and travel to Memphis to take on the Redbirds, the St. Louis Cardinals affiliate, beginning Tuesday September 3 as first pitch is slated for 6:45 p.m. CT and right-handed pitcher Dinelson Lamet will take the mound for Omaha.
