The thing about weird, in-game superstitions? They’re often true.
After being shutout for six innings, it took catching a baby raccoon in the Prairie Flower Casino suite in the 7th Inning for the Omaha Storm Chasers offense to snap out of their slump. The Chasers put up six runs in the inning to defeat the Iowa Cubs 6-2 in front of 3,875 at Werner Park.
Omaha snapped their four-game losing streak against Iowa and evened the series with the Cubs at one heading into Thursday night’s game.
Noah Cameron was off to a great start in his second start, tossing three 1-2-3 innings and only allowing one hit. His performance was blemished in the 4th, when Moises Ballesteros blasted a solo homer to center to give Iowa a 1-0 lead.
Cameron finished the game tossing six solid innings. He surrendered that lone home run and two other hits while striking out seven. He has yet to allow a walk in his first two starts as a Storm Chaser.
A wild scene unfolded at Werner Park in the Top of the 7th. Omaha President Martie Cordaro and a few staff members uncovered a wild baby raccoon just under the Prairie Flower Casino party suite.
Is it a coincidence that the discovery of the raccoon sparked the Omaha offense after the stretch? I guess so.
The Chasers tied things quickly in the 7th Inning after Nick Pratto blasted a double off the wall in left field to score Nate Eaton. After Rodolfo Duran singled, Cam Devanney gave Omaha the lead on a fielder’s choice bunt to score Pratto. Duran and Devanney both reached on that bunt. Drew Waters was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Nick Loftin lashed a double down the left field line to clear the bases and break the game open. Loftin would score on a single from Tyler Gentry and give the Chasers a 6-1 lead after seven.
Kevin Alcantara hit his first AAA homer off Chandler Champlain in the 8th Inning to cut the lead to four, but Iowa would not record another baserunner for the rest of the game.
NOTES:
- Nick Loftin finished the game 2-3 with three RBIs and a walk.
- Nick Pratto also had two hits, going 2-3 with a double, an RBI, and a walk.
- Drew Waters and Rodolfo Duran each went 1-3 with a run scored.
- Tyler Gentry got on the board with an RBI single, finishing 1-4.
- CJ Alexander struggled, going 0-4 today. He’s 1-7 in the series.
- Ryan Fitzgerald went 1-4, but made a ton of defensive gems at third base today. It’s the second time this season he has led off.
- Chandler Champlain made his first relief appearance as a Chaser this season. He was credited with the win after tossing two innings allowing a run on one hit. He did not allow a walk or a strikeout
- Carlos Hernandez K’d one in the 9th, a 1-2-3 inning.
NEXT GAME:
With the series evened at one, the Chasers turn to Daniel Lynch IV in tomorrow’s game looking for the series lead against Iowa. First pitch is set for 7:05pm. It’s All-Abilities Night at Werner Park with an appearance from Nebraska Softball pitcher Jordy Bahl on deck.
