Storm Chasers first baseman Ryan O'Hearn crushed his third home run in a span of four games and second baseman Humberto Arteaga collected three hits, however the New Orleans Cakes plated four ninth inning runs to pull away for a 9-5 victory over Omaha on Monday evening at Werner Park.
Storm Chasers first baseman Ryan O'Hearn crushed his third home run in a span of four games and second baseman Humberto Arteaga collected three hits, however the New Orleans Cakes plated four ninth inning runs to pull away for a 9-5 victory over Omaha on Monday evening at Werner Park.
Following single scores in the first and second frames by New Orleans, the Storm Chasers countered with a trio of tallies in the last of the second. 3B Jack Lopez slapped a game-tying two-run single to center, before SS Adalberto Mondesi spurred Omaha ahead by lofting a sacrifice fly.
One inning later, O'Hearn smashed his solo longball to right, with LF Billy Burns ' RBI knock to right in the fifth extending the Storm Chasers' advantage to 5-3. The Baby Cakes later melted that margin with a two-run sixth prior to icing Omaha by scoring four in the final frame.
Arteaga (3-4) paced the Storm Chasers' offense with his three knocks, joined by Burns (2-4, RBI, BB) and CF Terrance Gore (2-3, R, SB) in posting multi-hit efforts. New Orleans RF Isaac Galloway (2-5, 2 R, 2B, RBI), C Austin Nola (3-3, 2 R, RBI) and DH Rafael Ortega (3-5, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI) recorded three hits each in the victory. After leaving the yard just once over his first O'Hearn has now homered in two consecutive contests, as well as three out of four, after going deep just once over his first 38 games with Omaha in 2018. His four big flies rank tied for second on the team behind only infielder Frank Schwindel 's six.
The Baby Cakes relief corps of Mike Kickham (3.0 IP, H, 3 K) and Jumbo Díaz (2.0 IP, 2 H, K) combined for a stellar five scoreless frames in support of starter Zac Gallen (4.0 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K), who did not factor in the decision. Royals reliever Justin Grimm (1.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 2 K), who is with Omaha on a Major League Rehab Assignment, suffered the defeat.
The two teams are set to square off again on Tuesday evening, with first pitch slated for 6:35pm CT at Werner Park. RHP Heath Fillmyer (2-3, 5.45) is expected to get the nod for the Storm Chasers, while University of Nebraska-Omaha alum Tyler Cloyd (NR) is anticipated to start for New Orleans.
Tickets are still available for that game and all remaining Storm Chasers home dates in 2018, and may be purchased at www.omahastormchasers.com/tickets as well as by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100. To view Ticket Office hours, please click here.
