The Omaha Storm Chasers rallied from a 5-1 deficit to take a late lead, but it wasn’t enough as the Columbus Clippers scored three runs in the 9th to take the series opener 8-7.
It was not a good start for the Chasers. The Clippers loaded the bases in the 3rd and everyone came around on a Juan Brito double and a Tyler Gentry fielding error. Daniel Schneeman would score Brito on a single to left to give Columbus an early 4-0 lead.
Nick Loftin drove in Nick Pratto on a double down the left field line to get the Chasers on the board, but Jhonkensy Noel’s RBI double kept the deficit at four a half inning later. 5-1 Columbus halfway through the game.
The Chasers would begin the comeback from there. In the 7th Inning, Cam Devanney blasted a three-run home run over the center field fence to bring the Chasers within one.
An inning later, Nate Eaton hit a two-run home run to right center to give the Comeback Chasers a 6-5 lead going into the 9th Inning.
With Walter Pennington on the mound, it seemed as if the Chasers were going to lock this one down. But the Clippers turned the tables on them quickly. A double to right center by Brito scored the game-tying run. Daniel Schneeman then turned around a slider and sent it into the bullpen to give the Clippers an 8-6 lead.
Despite the rough inning, the Chasers wouldn’t go down without a fight. Drew Waters drove in Devanney on a sacrifice fly. With John Rave on second base and two outs, Nick Pratto ripped a line drive right at George Valera to end the game.
This is Omaha’s fifth home loss and they have yet to lose two home games in one series this year. That streak will be on the line for the rest of the series.
NOTES:
– The Chasers have committed six errors in the last two games. Not great.
– Walter Pennington had a rare bad inning in the 9th. It is the first time all season that Pennington has allowed more than one earned run in an outing.
– A great bounce-back game from Cam Devanney. After striking out four times on Sunday, he went 2-4 with the home run and three RBIs.
– Drew Waters fouled a ball off his ankle in the 7th and was down for a bit before finishing his AB. Something to monitor heading into tomorrow’s game.
– Carlos Hernandez continued his MLB rehab assignment pitching a scoreless 7th with a walk and a strikeout.
NEXT GAME:
The Storm Chasers host Columbus tomorrow at 6:35 pm for Game 2. The Chasers will wear their gold corn alternate jerseys for their first “Cornival” Wednesday game.