Omaha starting pitcher Trevor Oaks tossed seven solid innings of work, yielding two runs on four hits, and left fielder Ryan O'Hearn clubbed his second longball in a span of three games, however Cubs shortstop Mike Freeman drove in three runs, including the winning tally with a walk-off single in a
Omaha starting pitcher Trevor Oaks tossed seven solid innings of work, yielding two runs on four hits, and left fielder Ryan O'Hearn clubbed his second longball in a span of three games, however Cubs shortstop Mike Freeman drove in three runs, including the winning tally with a walk-off single in a 3-2 victory over the Storm Chasers on Sunday afternoon at Principal Park.
Entering the final frame even at 2-2, CF Jacob Hannemann reached on a one-out single and then took second on a walk. With two out, Freeman then bounced a groundball to the hole between first and second base that was smothered on a diving play by Omaha 2B Jack Lopez . Hannemann, however, sprinted all the way home from second and beat the throw to the plate to score the winning run and give the Cubs a win and series split.
O'Hearn got Omaha on the board with his second big fly of the series and third of the year, blasting a leadoff shot to right in the second. 3B Manny Olloque then began the next frame with a single, then advanced to third on 2B Jack Lopez's single to right before coming across on 1B Frank Schwindel 's RBI groundout. That two-run margin remained until the seventh, when Freeman slapped a two-run single to center to even the contest at 2-2.
Freeman (2-5, 3 RBI) and Hannemann (2-4, 2 R) each collected multi-hit efforts for Iowa. No Omaha batters tallied more than one knock, with DH Paulo Orlando failing to record a hit, snapping his 2018 team-best 11-game hit streak.
Neither Oaks (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K) nor Iowa starting pitcher Jen-Ho Tseng (7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 9 K) factored in the final decisions despite quality outings. Tseng at one point set down 12 consecugive Omaha batters. Cubs reliever Cory Mazzoni (2.0 IP, 2 K) earned the win with two perfect frames in Tseng's support, while Storm Chasers lefty Eric Stout (1.2 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB, K) suffered the defeat.
Omaha returns to Werner Park to begin a nine-game homestand on Monday, May 21. First pitch of the series opener against the New Orleans Baby Cakes that evening is slated for 6:35 p.m. CT. LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (1-5, 3.66) is anticipated to get the nod for the Storm Chasers, with the Baby Cakes anticipated to send RHP Zac Gallen (4-1, 2.25) to the hill.
Tickets are still available for that game and all remaining Storm Chasers home dates in 2018, and may be purchased at www.omahastormchasers.com/tickets as well as by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100. To view Ticket Office hours, please click here.
