Omaha Gains Ground on First Place Iowa

OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha Storm Chasers (47-44) pulled to within 1.5 games back of the first place Iowa Cubs (48-42) as they defeated the I-80 rival in the series opener 7-3. It was the first game of the series between the divisional foes that was not decided by three runs or less.

Omaha jumped out to a 4-0 lead in a second inning extended by an error by Cubs top prospect Kris Bryant, which was then followed by a two-run single by newest Storm Chaser Paul Janish and a RBI triple by Whit Merrifield. Merrifield was a home run shy of the cycle in the game, and extended his hot streak to hits in 20 of his last 22 games. During that stretch dating back to June 13, Merrifield has a PCL-leading 40 hits and he is batting .405 (32-for-79) in 18 games at the leadoff spot this year for Omaha.

The Cubs responded with a two-out, three-run homer by another Cubs top prospect Javy Baez in the third for his team-leading 14 round-tripper. But after the Baez blast the Omaha pitching staff of Ryan Verdugo, Spencer Patton and Louis Coleman did not allow a hit in the final 6.1 innings, with the only baserunners being a pair of walks. The three pitchers also combined to strike out 13 Iowa batters, the third game of Omaha's last four with at least 13 punch-outs, and the Chasers have totaled 48 strikeouts during the four games homestand.

Omaha put the game away with three runs in the sixth and seventh innings, including a RBI double by 2014 PCL All-Star Paulo Orlando as part of his three-hit night. Orlando has 103 hits on the season, the most for any Chaser and second most in the PCL, but only had three total hits in his last eight games coming in to tonight.

Omaha will look to move even closer to first place in the division as they send out RHP Aaron Brooks (7-2, 3.79 ERA), and the Chasers are 11-2 in his 13 starts this season. First pitch on 1180 Zone 2 The Deuce and MiLB.TV is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.