Merrifield's Blast Carries Chasers to Victory
Metairie, LA - Whit Merrifield belted the game-winning three-run home run as Omaha twice overcame a three-run deficit to defeat New Orleans, 7-6, Monday night in the final of four meetings at Zephyr Field. The Storm Chasers gained a series and eight-game road trip split to return home 56-52 and moved into a first place tie with the idle Iowa Cubs in the American Conference North Division. Omaha bookended this and the Memphis sets with wins and improved to 19-9 in the last game of a series, with 10 of the wins coming on the road.
Justin Bour doubled in a run with two outs and scored when Kyle Jensen followed with a home run, his fifth against Omaha over the last eight games between the two teams, to stake the Zephyrs to a 3-0 lead after the first inning for a second straight day. The Chasers got on the board in the third on a run-scoring ground out by Brian Bocock and moved to within 3-2 in the fourth on an RBI double by Pedro Ciriaco that chased starter Anthony DeSclafani from the mound after he allowed six hits, walked one and fanned six over 3 1/3 innings. Edgar Olmos assumed the hill with runners at second and third and induced a ground ball off the bat of Paul Janish that was fielded by Bour at first base but his throw to the plate was tardy allowing Matt Fields to score the tying run.
The Z's regained the lead in the fifth with another trio of runs highlighted by a scoring fly ball from former Royals farmhand Ed Lucas and a two-run blast by Mark Canha, their 24th home run against Omaha pitching. All six runs, five of them earned, were scored against Joe Saunders, who earned his first win of the season after surrendering six hits, walking one and striking out three. Jason Adam took over and spun two scoreless frames, allowing one hit, walking one and striking out a pair. Tim Collins then worked two hitless, shutout frames to preserve Omaha's 31st road win of the year.
Fields brought the visitors within 6-4 in the sixth with a solo shot, his 21st long ball of the season, that was followed by back-to-back singles by Ciriaco and Janish that knocked Olmos out of the game. Grant Dayton came on and promptly served up the decisive blow to Merrifield that put the Chasers in front for the first time in the contest and for good. Omaha finished just 2-6 in Louisiana and 5-11 overall against the Zephyrs, who are in the thick of a four-team pennant race in the American Conference South Division.
The Storm Chasers return home to begin a four-game series Tuesday night with right-hander Aaron Brooks getting the starting assignment against Memphis southpaw Tyler Lyons. Coverage of the game gets underway at 6:45 pm and can be heard locally on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and online at omahastormchasers.com.