Chasers Fall in I-80 Rivalry Series Opener

OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha Storm Chasers (32-32) are back to .500 on the season as they dropped the first game of the three-game set with the Iowa Cubs (34-29) by a score of 6-3. The loss was Omaha's fourth in their last five games at Werner Park.

Storm Chasers starter Clayton Mortensen suffered his team-high fifth loss of the season, as he gave up four runs in only four innings of work. After Arismendy Alcantara hit a solo homer in the third, the Cubs rallied for three runs in the fourth that proved to be enough offense for the win. Omaha clawed back to make it 4-3 entering the ninth, but Iowa added insurances runs on a RBI double by Jonathan Mota and another solo homer from Alcantara (who leads the Cubs with 10 homers).

Francisco Pena scored or drove in all three of the Storm Chasers runs on the night, as he hit a two-run homer in the fifth and scored after doubling in the seventh. Pena has now hit four homers in his last 13 games, after he had only one long ball in his first 28 games played this season, and 11 extra-base hits in that same 13-game span. Francisco's strong game ended on a sour note as he struck out for the final out of the game to seal the loss.

With the win the Iowa Cubs now have a 17-16 record against Omaha at Werner Park, the only conference opponent that has a winning record in the ballpark's history. The Storm Chasers have lost 11 of their 17 games against divisional opponents, the most losses in such games in the American Conference North.

Omaha will look to even the series tomorrow as they send out RHP Aaron Brooks (4-3, 3.38 ERA), who has tossed four straight quality starts and six in his last seven outings. First pitch on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and MiLB.TV is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.