Mondesi Slams Chasers To 5-1 Win Over I-Cubs

Storm Chasers shortstop Raul Mondesi  smashed his second grand slam in as many nights and first baseman Ryan O'Hearn  added a solo shot, while the relief corps. of Brian Flynn and Malcom Culver  tossed the final four-plus scoreless innings to give Omaha a 5-1 victory over the Iowa Cubs on Saturday evening at Principal Park.

After both starting pitchers matched zeroes through the first four and a half innings, the I-Cubs struck first with a single tally in the fifth courtesy of an RBI single from 1B Chris Dominguez . Mondesi would help the Storm Chasers answer in the following half frame by clubbing a grand slam to deep left-center to push Omaha ahead 4-1.<o:p>
It was the second grand slam in as many nights for Mondesi, who has blasted ten longballs with Omaha this season. Prior to yesterday's game, Mondesi had not crushed a grand slam through his first 539 career contests of his professional career. It was also Omaha's fourth bases-loaded big fly of the season, joining Ramón Torres and Jorge Soler .<o:p>
O'Hearn would then add an insurance tally in the ninth with a solo blast to straightaway center field. The smash was O'Hearn's team-best 14th of the 2017 campaign to cap Omaha's scoring at 5-1. No Storm Chasers batter tallied a multi-hit effort, while Dominguez (2-4, RBI) and 2B Chesny Young (2-4) each recorded two knocks for Iowa.<o:p>
I-Cubs starter Aaron Brooks (7.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 9 K) retired each of the first 13 batters he faced before 2B Dean Anna slapped a one-out single to left in the top of the fifth, and ultimately suffered the defeat. Omaha starter Eric Skoglund (4.2 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 5 BB, 5 K) did not factor in the decision, while Flynn (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 K) earned his fourth victory and Culver (1.1 IP, H, BB) notched his ninth save with 1.1 shutout frames.<o:p>
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Omaha completes their three-game set in Iowa with a Sunday matinee at Principal Park, with first pitch scheduled for 1:08 p.m. CT. RHP Jake Junis (2-3, 2.39) is anticipated to toe the rubber for the Storm Chasers, while the I-Cubs are expected to send RHP Jen-Ho Tseng (NR) to the hill.<o:p>
The Storm Chasers return to Werner Park after the PCL All-Star Break on Thursday, July 13 to start an eight-game homestand. Their first matchup facing the Nashville Sounds is slated for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch.<o:p>
Tickets are still available for that game and all remaining Storm Chasers contests, 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.
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