Chasers’ bats get hot, but Omaha comes up short

Dungan goes 3-for-4 with a double and a triple in 8-7 loss

August 25, 2022

PAPILLION, Neb. – For just the second time at home this season, the Storm Chasers lost a game despite holding a lead heading into the ninth inning. The RailRiders took Thursday night’s game 8-7, now leading the series 3-0. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (64-55) scored the game’s first run on an RBI single

PAPILLION, Neb. – For just the second time at home this season, the Storm Chasers lost a game despite holding a lead heading into the ninth inning. The RailRiders took Thursday night’s game 8-7, now leading the series 3-0.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (64-55) scored the game’s first run on an RBI single from Ben Rortvedt before Ronald Guzman hit a solo homer. In the second, Tyler Wade hit a two-run home run to give the RailRiders the early 4-0 lead.

Omaha (55-64) put a rally together in the bottom of the fourth, capitalizing on a pair of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre errors. Second baseman Clay Dungan hit a double to score designated hitter Freddy Fermin who reached on an error. Catcher José Briceño kept things rolling with a single that scored first baseman Logan Porter. Maikel Garcia reached base on a fielder’s choice, but another RailRiders error led to all runners being safe and Dungan scoring to put the deficit at one run after four innings.

A sacrifice fly from Porter scored another in run in the fifth to knot the score at 4-4.

The RailRiders retook the lead with a Phillip Evans home run in the sixth, but Omaha responded with a rally in the bottom of the frame. Garcia hit a double to score Briceño before coming in to score himself on a wild pitch to put Omaha ahead 6-5.

Left-hander Marcelo Martinez was the first man out of the bullpen for the Storm Chasers, going 3.1 innings and allowing just one earned run with five strikeouts.

The Storm Chasers kept the bats hot in the seventh, using a single from left fielder Jimmy Govern to score Dungan. Dairon Blanco came in to pinch run, stealing his 33rd base of the season, now leading the International League in steals.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre put a rally together in the top of the ninth. Rortvedt hit an RBI single before Guzman hit his second home run of the night to retake the lead.

Omaha couldn’t put a runner on base in the ninth, dropping game three 8-7.

The Storm Chasers and RailRiders will continue their series on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Coverage will start at 6:45 p.m. on the Sarpy County Tourism Pregame Show on 1180 The Zone. Omaha is set to start left-hander Drew Parrish (3-6, 5.01) while Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is scheduled to start Matt Krook.

After tomorrow’s game, stick around for post-game fireworks presented by Hy-Vee.

The full 2022 schedule can be found here and single-game tickets are now available here.

For more tickets and more information, please visit omahastormchasers.com, call the Werner Park Ticket office at (402) 738-5100, and follow the team on social media. You can follow the team on Twitter @omastormchasers, on Instagram @omahastormchasers, and “like” the team on Facebook at facebook.com/omahastormchasers.