Kowar throws five strong innings and Castillo goes yard in loss to Columbus

Chasers score a pair in the ninth, come up short in series opener

June 21, 2022

Papillion, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers (31-34) dropped the series opener to the Columbus Clippers (39-28) 4-2. As a team, the Chasers went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine runners on base. The Clippers jumped out to an early lead, hitting a home run in the

Papillion, Neb. – The Omaha Storm Chasers (31-34) dropped the series opener to the Columbus Clippers (39-28) 4-2. As a team, the Chasers went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine runners on base.

The Clippers jumped out to an early lead, hitting a home run in the first. After allowing the homer, right-hander Jackson Kowar (Loss, 3-6) settled into a grove, retiring the next three batters in order, and striking out the side in the second. Kowar gave up a walk to start the third, but a 2-6-3 double-play cleared the bases before a strikeout ended the inning.

Catcher Freddy Fermin led off the bottom of the third with a double, putting a runner in scoring position for Omaha. Fermin would end up stranded at second to end the inning with Columbus ahead 1-0.

Kowar again got in a jam in the fourth, loading the bases on a single and a pair of walks but used a pair of strikeouts to get out of the frame. In all, Kowar would go 5.0 innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts.

Right-hander Zach Willeman pitched the sixth for Omaha, allowing a two walks but recorded a pair of strikeouts and a force out to strand the runners and get out of the inning.

First baseman Nick Pratto hit a leadoff double in the sixth but would end up stranded, leaving the deficit at 1-0.

The Clippers put up a three spot in the top of the eighth, extending their lead to 4-0.

The Storm Chasers responded by loading the bases in the bottom of the inning. Center fielder Roman Quinn hit a single, Pratto drew a walk, and right fielder Edward Olivares hit an infield single with one away, but Omaha came away empty in the inning.

Second baseman Michael Massey hit a double to start the ninth for the Storm Chasers, advancing to third on a fielding error by the Clippers. Massey would come in to score on a groundout by Fermin. Shortstop Iván Castillo hit his fifth homer of the season to cut the deficit to two.

Quinn would keep the rally alive with a walk, but Omaha’s comeback fell short, dropping the series opener 4-2.

Omaha continues their series against Columbus on Wednesday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Coverage will begin at 6:45 p.m. with the Sarpy County Tourism Pregame Show on 1180 The Zone. Tomorrow’s is a Winning Wednesday presented by Nebraska Spine Hospital. If the Storm Chasers win, fans in attendance until the end of the game will receive a free voucher for the next Wednesday home game.

The full 2022 schedule can be found here and single-game tickets are now available here.

For more tickets and more information, please visit omahastormchasers.com, call the Werner Park Ticket office at (402) 738-5100, and follow the team on social media. You can follow the team on Twitter @omastormchasers, on Instagram @omahastormchasers, and “like” the team on Facebook at facebook.com/omahastormchasers.