Omaha Hits 5 Home Runs in 9-6 Win Over Iowa

DES MOINES, IOWA – The Omaha Storm Chasers (25-25/58-66) hit 5 home runs, beating the Iowa Cubs (22-30/52-72) on Tuesday night, 9-6. The 5 home runs included Carson Roccaforte’s first Triple-A home run while Lucas Braun (3-1) fired 5.0 strong innings in the 3-run win.

The Cubs opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning with an RBI triple off Braun, taking an early 1-0 lead.

The Storm Chasers responded with a run of their own in the top of the 2nd inning when Peyton Wilson singled to drive in Abraham Toro and tie the game 1-1.

Braun then fired a scoreless 2nd inning, and Roccaforte led off the top of the 3rd inning with his first Triple-A home run to give Omaha a 2-1 lead. Wilson drove in his second run of the night with an RBI double later in the frame to extend the Storm Chasers’ lead to 3-1.

Braun followed with back-to-back perfect frames in the bottom of the 3rd and 4th innings, then firing a scoreless 5th inning and exiting before the bottom of the 6th inning. He finished the game going 5.0 innings, allowing just 1 run while striking out 6.

Matt Moore took over for Braun to begin the bottom of the 6th inning, going 3-up, 3-down for a perfect frame.

Omaha added to its lead in the top of the 7th inning when Brett Squires hit his team-leading 22nd home run with Omaha this year, a solo shot to bring the lead to 4-1.

The Storm Chasers turned back to Moore for the bottom of the 7th inning, and after giving the ball to Carlos Duran with a runner on first and two outs, Duran finished the frame scoreless.

In the top of the 8th inning, the Storm Chasers broke the game open with a 4-run frame, to take an 8-1 lead, starting with back-to-back first-pitch home runs from Josh Rojas and Jacob Berry, and finishing with Roccaforte adding a 2-run double.

Duran returned for the bottom of the 8th inning but allowed a 2-run double and came out of the game with runners on first and second and two outs. Scott Alexander took his place to finish the frame and didn’t allow a run, keeping the score 8-3.

Peyton Wilson added some insurance to Omaha’s lead with a leadoff home run in the top of the 9th inning, giving the Storm Chasers a 9-3 advantage.

Omaha called upon Easton McGee for the bottom of the 9th inning and despite allowing one run to score on a throwing error and another pair on a 2-run single, he finished the frame to complete the 9-6 victory.

Eight of nine Storm Chasers hitters recorded hits, led by 3-hit days from Roccaforte and Wilson, who both drove in 3 and came a triple shy of the cycle.

The Storm Chasers will return to Principal Park on Wednesday for Game 2 of their series with the Cubs. First pitch is set for 12:08 P.M. CT and Tony Gonsolin is expected to make a Major League rehab start with Omaha.