Chasers give up lead late, drop fourth straight game
PAPILLION, Neb. -- The Omaha Storm Chasers were two outs away from a win, but the St. Paul Saints scored three runs on four hits in the top of the ninth inning to take the lead and ultimately win, 7-5. Omaha (40-27) lost its fourth consecutive game, its longest losing
PAPILLION, Neb. -- The Omaha Storm Chasers were two outs away from a win, but the St. Paul Saints scored three runs on four hits in the top of the ninth inning to take the lead and ultimately win, 7-5. Omaha (40-27) lost its fourth consecutive game, its longest losing streak of the season.
St. Paul (36-32) tied the game with a one-out double by Roberto Peña that drove in Drew Stankiewicz. After Jose Miranda singled and Jimmy Kerrigan walked to load the bases, Tomas Telís hit a first-pitch, two-run single against right-hander Jake Newberry (Loss, 1-2) to put the Saints up by a pair.
Right-hander Ian Hamilton (Save, 3) retired Omaha in order in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Chasers scored first, taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when designated hitter Edward Olivares crushed a two-run homer to left-center against right-hander Matt Shoemaker. The Saints tied the game in the bottom of the third on back-to-back solo home runs by Peña and Miranda against right-hander Eddie Butler.
Omaha pulled ahead in the fifth thanks to three doubles. After left-fielder Rudy Martin led off with a bloop double, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. scorched an RBI double down left-field line. Three batters later, centerfielder Kyle Isbel doubled into the left-centerfield gap to put the Chasers in front, 4-2.
Isbel finished 2-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to a season-best 10 games. It is the longest hitting streak of the season for an Omaha hitter. Witt Jr. went 2-for-5, notching his third multi-hit game in three career Triple-A games.
The Saints promptly tied the game with two runs in the sixth when Mark Contreras singled with runners on the corners and one out. Keon Broxton brought in the tying run by beating out potential double-play grounder while Telís scored.
Butler allowed three runs on five hits in 5.1 innings, his second consecutive start of at least 5.0 innings and three or fewer runs allowed.
Omaha retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth when second baseman Angelo Castellano singled, stole second, and scored on a two-out single by Martin against right-hander Beau Burrows (Win, 2-1).
The Storm Chasers continue their series with the St. Paul Saints on Friday at Werner Park, when right-hander Jackson Kowar (6-2, 2.02) faces St. Paul left-hander Charlie Barnes (5-2, 3.88). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and coverage begins at 6:45 p.m. CT with the Sarpy County Tourism Pregame Show on 1180 The Zone.
The six-game homestand features a Bubba Starling "Bubba Fett" bobblehead giveaway—presented by Fairfield Inn & Suites—to the first 1,500 fans on Friday, July 23, and the rescheduled FNBO Independence Fireworks Show following Friday’s game. For tickets and more information, please visit omahastormchasers.com, call the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100 and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.