A Pair of Lefties Pitch Chasers Past Cubs

Des Moines, IA - John Lamb struck out a season-high 10 over seven sterling innings to lead Omaha to a 4-2 victory over Iowa Tuesday night in the first of three meetings at Principal Park. The Storm Chasers pushed their winning streak to a season-best seven to improve to 39-32 but remain eight and a half games behind division-leading Oklahoma City in the American Conference North. Omaha has claimed three of the first four match-ups in the 16-game season series between the I-80 rivals.

The Storm Chasers jumped on former Kansas City Royals hurler Felipe Paulino for three runs in the first inning on two-out RBI hits by Brett Eibner and Casey Kotchman and a fielding error by John Andreoli on a Moises Sierra single that allowed Francisco Pena to score from second base. Lamb retired the first 10 hitters he faced before Andreoli hit a solo home run to trim the margin to 3-1 in the fourth. Ryan Dent doubled to drive in Taylor Teagarden to bring the hosts within one but Chris Valaika was thrown out at the plate attempting to score from first base by Paulo Orlando to end the fifth and keep the visitors in the lead.

Iowa's veteran right-hander settled down and was lifted following Kotchman's two-out base hit in the sixth having struck out six and was replaced by Gonzalez Germen, who gave up a run in the seventh on a Matt Fields sacrifice fly that stretched Omaha's lead back to a pair. Lamb departed with that two-run cushion and earned his seventh win after allowing only four hits and not walking a batter and was followed by Scott Alexander, who retired all six hitters he faced to sew up the Chasers fifth straight road win and their 10th in their last 11 away from home. Omaha's bullpen has permitted just a lone run over 20 2/3 innings over the five games on the current road trip.

The series continues Wednesday afternoon with Omaha right-hander Yohan Pino taking the hill against Iowa righty Carlos Pimentel. Coverage of the game begins with the Metropolitan Community College pre-game show at 11:45 am and can be heard on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and online at omahastormchasers.com.