Junis Dominates, Chasers Win 8-3 in Extras

NASHVILLE - The Storm Chasers nearly wasted a brilliant performance by Jake Junis, but after losing a late 3-run lead, Omaha rallied for an 8-3, 11-inning victory over Nashville to split the 4-game series at First Tennessee Park.

After the Chasers didn't put a man on base through 3 innings against Michael Brady, they broke through for 2 runs in the top of the 4^th. With 1 out, Raul Mondesi singled and stole 2^nd, and Ramón Torres walked. Frank Schwindel followed with a 2-run double to center, giving Omaha a 2-0 lead.
Brady was lifted after 4 innings in a spot-start, allowing 2 runs, 2 hits, with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts.
Omaha added a run in the 5^th against reliever Aaron Kurcz; Cam Gallagher singled, Dean Anna was hit by a pitch, Terrance Gore sacrificed them to 2^nd and 3^rd, and Corey Toups walked to load the bases. With 2 out, Ramon Torres hit a soft ground ball to short that turned into an infield single, scoring Gallagher for a 3-0 advantage.
Jake Junis , meanwhile, was simply outstanding over 7 shutout innings. He allowed just 2 hits, faced just 1 batter over the minimum, and walked only 1 hitter. He also matched his career-high with 12 strikeouts.
Nashville dented the scoreboard against rehabbing Royal Scott Alexander in the bottom of the 8^th; Joey Wendle led off with a double, and after a groundout, Jaff Decker singled him home. Ryan LaMarre followed with a walk, but Alexander induced a key 4-6-3 double-play out of Kenny Wilson to escape the inning.
But the Chasers couldn't hold the lead in the 9^th. Eric Stout , pitching for a 2^nd consecutive night, yielded a single to Jaycob Brugman, a double to Franklin Barreto, and a walk to Matt Olson to load the bases. Matt Chapman hit a deep sacrifice fly to center, bringing Brugman home and sending Barreto to 3^rd. Joey Wendle then grounded into a fielder's choice, allowing Barreto to score the tying run. It was 3-3.
Bobby Parnell kept the game alive with a scoreless bottom of the 10^th, and the Chasers regained the lead in the top of the 11th against Simon Castro (L, 0-2). Ryan O'Hearn singled, and was pinch-run for by Billy Burns . Burns then stole 2^nd, and with 1 out, Cam Gallagher singled to left field. Renato Núñez came up firing toward the plate, and Burns would have been out, but catcher Ryan Lavarnway dropped the ball, allowing Burns to score and putting Omaha ahead 4-3.
Dean Anna continued the rally by reaching on an error by 2^nd baseman Joey Wendle, and Terrance Gore was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a strikeout, Raul Mondesi laced a 3-run triple to right field, bringing Gallagher, Anna, and Gore home. Mondesi then scored on a wild pitch, and suddenly, it was 8-3.
Parnell (W, 3-2) completed a 2-inning performance with a scoreless bottom of the 11^th, finally nailing down a series split for Omaha. They improved to 2-5 in extra-inning games, and 24-23 overall.
The Chasers return to Werner Park for a 4-game series against Round Rock tomorrow night. Both team's starters are to be announced. First pitch will be at 7:05.
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