Five-Run Sixth Lifts Chasers to 2-0 Lead

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The Omaha Storm Chasers took a commanding 2-0 lead in the American Conference Championship with a 7-4 win over the Oklahoma City RedHawks, powered by a five-run sixth inning. The final three games of the series will be played at Werner Park with the Chasers seeking a third straight Pacific Coast League Championship round appearance.

After Omaha blew an early 2-0 lead with Oklahoma City plating four runs in the fourth inning, the Storm Chasers offense responded with a big inning of their own in the sixth. A RBI double by Gorkys Hernandez tied the game at 4-4, then the next batter Irving Falu provided the game-winning hit with a two-RBI double. The seven runs were the most Omaha has scored at Oklahoma City all season, with the previous high being five runs.

Storm Chasers starter Clay Mortensen exited after five innings of work, then Omaha relievers Buddy Baumann and Zach Jackson tossed four shutout innings to close out the victory. Baumann allowed a single and a double to start the seventh inning, but struck out the next two batters and forced a flyout to shut down the final threat for the RedHawks. Chasers relievers have not allowed an earned run in 7.1 total innings in the series.

Omaha has won eight of ten road games in the last three postseasons, 5-1 in first round road games, and have won both series in team history in which they won the first two games of a five-game series. Omaha's two wins in Oklahoma City to start the series nearly matched their three wins in eight regular season games at Bricktown Ballpark in 2013.

During the regular season Omaha won five of eight games at Werner Park against Oklahoma City, and in Game 3 Chasers left-hander Justin Marks will face off with RedHawks right-hander Jake Buchanan. First pitch of the potential series-clinching game is set for 7:05 p.m., and the last team to qualify for three straight PCL Championship series was the Sacramento River Cats in 2007-2009.