Offense Backs up Bowlan Quality Start in 9-2 win
PAPILLION, NEB. – Omaha Storm Chasers starting pitcher Jonathan Bowlan fired his third quality start in a four-star span and got plenty of run support from the Chasers in a 9-2 win over the Indianapolis Indians Saturday night. Catcher Tyler Cropley opened the scoring in the bottom of the second
PAPILLION, NEB. – Omaha Storm Chasers starting pitcher Jonathan Bowlan fired his third quality start in a four-star span and got plenty of run support from the Chasers in a 9-2 win over the Indianapolis Indians Saturday night.
Catcher Tyler Cropley opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning with a two-run triple, his first professional triple, to give the Chasers a 2-0 lead.
While Indianapolis responded with runs in the third and fourth, Omaha bounced back in the bottom of the fourth as Cropley drove in the go-ahead run on a fielder’s choice to tie his career-high with three runs batted in.
John Rave increased Omaha’s lead in the fifth inning and he connected for a three-run homer, then Tyler Gentry dashed home on a wild pitch in the seventh to push the lead to five runs.
The first four Omaha hitters reached in the bottom of the eighth, as Matt Beaty doubled in Bubba Thompson and then Beaty came across as Gentry grounded into a double play for the first two outs of the inning.
Gentry finished the day 4-for-5, the fourth four-hit game his career, while Beaty and Thompson each offered three-hit games, including a pair of doubles from Beaty.
Bowlan kept Indy off balance much of the night, as he limited the opposition to five hits and got a pair of double plays to erase baserunners, while striking out three. The right-hander fired a pair of 1-2-3 innings, including the top of the sixth and he retired his last five hitters of the game.
Evan Sisk followed Bowlan with two perfect innings and Brett de Geus worked around a leadoff single in the ninth for a scoreless frame, his first outing of the week.
As a team, Omaha’s collected 14 hits, but also went just 4-for-19 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 on, including leaving the bases loaded in the sixth after loading them with no outs.
The Storm Chasers play their final home game of the season Sunday at 2:05 p.m. CT with left-hander Drew Parrish headed the mound with hopes of helping Omaha secure a series split.