Chasers Drop Finale in Front of Sellout Crowd
OMAHA, Neb. - In front of the first sellout crowd of the season at 9,023 fans, and fifth straight sellout on either July 3rd or July 4th in the five years at Werner Park, the Omaha Storm Chasers (43-39) lost the series finale with the New Orleans Zephyrs (38-42) by a score of 8-4. Omaha won the season series with New Orleans 9-7, but the two teams split the final 12 meetings.
The Zephyrs used a pair of four-run innings in the second and fourth, chasing Buddy Baumann in the second after he had not allowed a run in either of his first two starts. Former Storm Chasers first baseman Kila Ka'aihue provided two big blows with a two-run double in the second and a two-run single in the fourth, and had three hits and four RBI. The Storm Chasers had only allowed eight or more runs in a game once since the start of June, and the eight runs were the most allowed to New Orleans in the season series.
The Omaha offense was limited to two runs by New Orleans starter Andre Rienzo in his six innings, and suffered the loss despite outhitting the Zephyrs in the game. Whit Merrifield was one of four Storm Chasers with multiple hits in the game, and is one of seven players with 85 or more hits in the Pacific Coast League. Moises Sierra attempted to bring the Storm Chasers back late with a two-run homer in the ninth, but Rob Morey finished off the Chasers for a three-inning save.
The Storm Chasers now head to first place Oklahoma City for a pivotal four-game series, as they enter trailing by 11.0 games to the Dodgers. In the series opener, Omaha will send out 2015 PCL All-Star LHP John Lamb (8-1, 2.71 ERA) to face off with Oklahoma City RHP Deck McGuire (3-3, 3.91 ERA). First pitch on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and MiLB.TV is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.