Chasers' rally falls short in Sunday loss to Toledo

PAPILLION, Neb. -- The Omaha Storm Chasers scored 10 runs over the final five innings but fell short of completing a comeback, falling, 11-10, to the Toledo Mud Hens on Sunday at Werner Park. Omaha ((61-47) won four of the seven games against Toledo (62-47) this week at Werner Park.

Trailing, 9-0, entering the bottom of the fifth inning, the Chasers scored six runs on five hits against right-hander Ricardo Pinto (Win, 9-2) to cut into the Mud Hens' lead. With centerfielder Kyle Isbel at second base and right-fielder Erick Mejia at first, left-fielder Dairon Blanco singled up the middle to plate the Chasers' first run of the game. Two batters later, second baseman Lucius Fox blasted a double to right-center to bring in a pair. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. drove in two more with a single to left, stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored the final run of the inning on an RBI groundout by first baseman Nick Pratto.

Toledo extended its lead in the sixth, when Spencer Torkelson and Kody Clemens hit back-to-back home runs. The Mud Hens hit seven home runs in the game—tied for the most home runs Omaha has allowed in a game this season. Riley Greene hit a two-run home run in the first inning against right-hander Eddie Butler (Loss, 7-3) and a solo shot against right-hander Scott Blewett in the fourth, Josh Lester added a solo shot in the second, Ryan Kreidler hit a two-run homer in the third, and Clemens hit his first of two home runs in the fourth to help Toledo built its 9-0 lead through the first four innings.

Omaha clawed back in the sixth with a two-run homer from Isbel, his third home run in as many days. He became the sixth Storm Chasers to homer in three straight games this season, joining Ryan McBroom, Ryan O'Hearn, Emmanuel Rivera, Nick Dini, and Nick Pratto. Isbel finished the game 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.

The Chasers added a run in the eighth to cut the deficit to two when Mejia launched an RBI double to centerfield.

In the ninth, Pratto ripped a double down the right-field line in the ninth to bring in Witt Jr. and make it a 11-10 game. Third baseman MJ Melendez drew a walk to put runners—the potential tying and winning runs—on first and second with one out. Left-hander Locke St. John (Save, 2) got the final outs when Isbel struck out swinging and Pratto was picked off second base by Toledo catcher Grayson Greiner to end the game.

Melendez went 1-for-3 with two walks to extend his hitting streak nine games.

Following an off day on Monday, the Storm Chasers begin a six-game series against the St. Paul Saints (MIN) at CHS Field in St. Paul, Minn. on Tuesday. First pitch is set 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.

After a week-long series against the Saints, the Omaha Storm Chasers return to Werner Park for a six-game series against the Iowa Cubs (CHC) from Sept. 14-19 and a five-game series against the Indianapolis Indians (PIT) as part of the Triple-A Final Stretch from Sept. 22-26, the final home games of the 2021 season. A special ticket package for the Triple-A Final Stretch is available now. For tickets and more information, visit omahastormchasers.com or call the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100 and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.