Tacoma & Omaha Split Thursday Twinbill

Storm Chasers starter Josh Staumont  fanned eight batters in six innings of work yet suffered the loss in a 1-0 loss to Tacoma, while Omaha starter Christian Binford  fired six shutout frames and right fielder Bubba Starling  collected three hits and two RBI in a 5-0 series-ending victory over the Rainiers as the two teams split their Thursday evening twinbill at Werner Park.

Staumont (6.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 7 BB, 8 K) has totaled 60 strikeouts this year with Omaha, ranking him second in the Pacific Coast League. He yielded just two hits, though walked seven, suffering the defeat despite a quality outing to fall to 3-3. The lone run in the first contest came across in the sixth, when Tacoma C Mike Zunino came plateward on a wild pitch to break the scoreless draw. <o:p>
Rainiers starter Tyler Cloyd (4.0 IP, 2 H, 3 K), a University of Nebraska-Omaha alum and Papillion native, fired the first four scoreless innings, with relievers Emilio Pagán (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 K) and Ryne Harper (1.0 IP, H) completing the final three shutout frames. Pagan earned his first win, while Harper notched his second save.<o:p>
Both Omaha SS Raul Mondesi and RF Bubba Starling collected hits in game one to extend their respective hit streaks to ten and eight contests. The duo would also tally knocks in the nightcap to add another contest to their stretches, while 2B Ramón Torres went hitless after coming into the twinbill with a 12-game hit streak.<o:p>
Starling (3-3, R, 2 RBI) recorded three hits in game two while driving in two RBI in the series finale and was the only from either side to post a multi-hit effort in either contest. He drove in the Chasers' first tally with an RBI single in the second, before capping his evening with a run-scoring base knock to center in the sixth. Omaha also plated three runs in the fifth courtesy of DH Garin Cecchini 's two-run double to left, followed by C Parker Morin 's sacrifice fly to center, which increased the Chasers advantage to 4-0.<o:p>
Binford (6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K) fired his seventh straight quality start to earn the win in game two, while reliever Malcom Culver (1.0 IP, H, BB, K) finished the job in the final inning. Rainiers lefty Paul Paez (4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 R, ER, BB, 2 K) suffered the defeat to fall to 0-1.<o:p>
The Chasers remain home at Werner Park to begin a four-game set with the Reno Aces on Friday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. RHP Jake Junis (1-2, 3.07) is anticipated to get the nod for Omaha, with the Aces expected to send RHP Frank Duncan (1-4, 6.98) to the hill.<o:p>
Tickets are still available for that night 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.<o:p>
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