Omaha’s ninth-inning rally not enough at Syracuse

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Omaha Storm Chasers (48-48) fall to the Syracuse Mets (44-53) 9-1 in game four-of-six. The series is now tied 2-2 with Omaha leading the all-time series 16-5.

Third baseman Clay Dungan hit a one-out double in the second before getting stranded after a flyout and a pop out.

Syracuse opened the game’s scoring with a rally in the bottom of the frame. Right-hander Marcelo Martinez retired the first four batters in order before conceding a double and a triple with one out in the second. The S-Mets scored their second run on a fielder’s choice.

With the bases juiced, Syracuse kept the rally moving with an infield single that resulted an errant throw from Omaha that scored another run. Another walk and single scored two more and forced a Storm Chasers pitching change. When the inning ended, the Chasers found themselves down 7-0, allowing seven runs on six hits in the inning, both tie a season-high for a single inning.

Catcher Freddy Fermin walked to start the third before designated hitter Drew Waters hit a double into left field that put a pair of runners in scoring position. Omaha came away empty and leave the deficit at seven. Waters has now reached in all 13 games that he has played for Omaha, combining that with his last game in Gwinnett to move his on-base streak to 14 games, one of the longer active on-base streaks in the International League.

Right fielder Brewer Hicklen drew a leadoff walk in the fourth and Dungan hit a single to put a pair of runners on. Shortstop Iván Castillo drew a walk to juice the bases and first baseman Angelo Castellano drew an eight-pitch walk to plate Omaha’s first run of the game and cut the deficit to six heading to the bottom of the fourth.

Syracuse hit a solo homer to push the score to 8-1 through four innings of play.

Second baseman Michael Massey hit a single to start the fifth, putting a runner on base in each of the first five innings but Omaha stranded another in the frame.

The S-Mets hit another homer in the sixth to push their lead to 9-1.

Omaha loaded the bases with one away in the ninth, getting a walk from catcher William Hancock and a single from pinch hitter Gabriel Cancel. Waters drew a walk to fill the bases and a wild pitch would allow Hancock to score. Massey walked to reload the bases and force another S-Mets pitching change.

A sacrifice fly from Hicklen scored another, but Omaha’s ninth inning rally fell short as Syracuse won 9-4.

Omaha and Syracuse will face off in game five on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 CDT with coverage set to start at 5:15 p.m. on the Sarpy County Tourism Pregame Show on 1180 The Zone. Probable starter for the Storm Chasers tomorrow is right-hander Daniel Mengden (5-4, 5.67) while the S-Mets have Connor Grey scheduled to start.

The Storm Chasers will return home for a six-game set against St. Paul the first week of August. Thursday, August 4 is Military Appreciation night presented by RTG Medical with special events scheduled to show our appreciation for the military.

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.