Omaha Squanders Lead in Fourth Inning and Lose to Columbus, 8-5
COLUMBUS, OHIO — The Omaha Storm Chasers led briefly but dropped game four of a six game series against the Clippers, 8-5 at Huntington Park Friday night. On a chilling and crisp night, both teams struggled early offensively to put runs on the board for the third consecutive day, as
COLUMBUS, OHIO — The Omaha Storm Chasers led briefly but dropped game four of a six game series against the Clippers, 8-5 at Huntington Park Friday night.
On a chilling and crisp night, both teams struggled early offensively to put runs on the board for the third consecutive day, as both starting pitchers were in control across the first three innings without allowing a run.
In the top of the fourth inning, Omaha put on a hitting clinic and Nate Eaton started the scoring with a single up the middle to bring Tyler Tolbert and Drew Waters home and make the score 2-0 in favor of the Chasers.
Two batters later, Devin Mann followed with a double to left field and brought Eaton and Nick Pratto home to increase the lead 4-0. Brian O’Keefe added to the hit parade as he doubled to center field and scored Mann to make it 5-0.
The Clippers promptly cut into the Storm Chaser lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, opening the home half of the frame with six straight hits. With the bases loaded, Daniel Schneemann doubled and Micah Pries added a double to cut Omaha's lead to 5-4, then Dom Nuñez added a two-run blast to right field to help Columbus take its first lead of the night, 6-5. In the sixth inning, the Clippers added more damage to the scoreboard with another pair of doubles to extended their lead to 8-5.
The Storm Chasers had one last breath in the top of the ninth inning that started with O’Keefe's second double of the game, but after Mike Brosseau drew a pinch-hit walk, the two runners were stranded on base to end the game, with the tying run left at the plate.
Storm Chasers starter Andrew Hoffmann struck out four batters in 3.0 innings before his night was over and replaced by Tyler Duffey, who allowed just one run over 2.0 innings but was charged with the loss. Eaton had two hits on the night, his second consecutive multi-hit game of the season.
The Storm Chasers continue this six-game series against the Clippers on Saturday, April 6 at Huntington Park with a 1:05 pm CT first pitch as left-hander Daniel Lynch IV is the projected starter for Omaha.