Farrell Fans 10, Chasers Hold Off Sounds 4-2

Omaha starting pitcher Luke Farrell  tied a career-high with ten strikeouts over six-plus innings of work, right fielder Ruben Sosa  reached base four times and third baseman Garin Cecchini  homered as the Storm Chasers crushed the Nashville Sounds' comeback hopes in a 4-2 triumph on Thursday evening at Werner Park.

The Storm Chasers announced a crowd of 5,019, marking the fourth consecutive opening dating back to Monday Werner Park has hosted over 5,000 fans. It is the first Monday through Thursday stretch in Werner Park history with an announced attendance above the 5,000 guest mark on each day.<o:p>
Farrell (6.2 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 10 K) struck out the side in the first and third frames, in addition to a pair of punchouts in the fourth. He saved his tenth strikeout for his final batter to match his career-high, previously achieved by the right-hander twice during the 2014 season with Low-A Lexington. Despite his efforts, however, Farrell did not factor in the final decisions.<o:p>
Omaha got the scoring started when Sosa (2-3, R, 2 BB) led off the Chasers order in the first with a single, advanced to second on a groundout, stole third, and then scored when 1B Ryan O'Hearn reached on the first of three Sounds fielding miscues on the night. Nashville then answered back with a single tally in the top of the second to draw the game even at 1-1 on RF Jaff Decker 's sacrifice fly.<o:p>
After the Sounds grabbed a 2-1 advantage via a fifth-inning RBI groundout, the Chasers snagged the advantage back with a two-run seventh. SS Raul Mondesi (2-5, R, 2B) slammed a ground-rule double to right-center before coming plateward when LF Jorge Soler reached on an error, before CF Bubba Starling dropped an RBI single into center to score Soler and push the Chasers ahead by one. Cecchini crushed his third longball of the year in the next frame to cap the game's scoring at 4-2.<o:p>
Nashville threatened in the ninth by loading the bases, however Omaha closer Malcom Culver (1.0 IP, 2 H, BB, K) was able to work through the jam and notch his sixth save. Lefty reliever Brian Flynn (0.2 IP, H) earned his second win as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment with the Storm Chasers and Al Alburquerque (0.2 IP, K) received his fourth hold. Sounds relief man Tyler Sturdevant (1.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, ER, BB) suffered the defeat.<o:p>
Omaha continues their seven-game homestand on Friday evening by starting a three-game set versus the New Orleans Baby Cakes. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT for the series opener at Werner Park. The Storm Chasers have not yet announced their starter, while the Baby Cakes are expected to give the ball to LHP Kelvin Marte (1-2, 4.70).<o:p>
Tickets are still available for that game and all remaining Storm Chasers contests, 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.<o:p>