It was a well-spent Thursday evening in Indianapolis for the Omaha Storm Chasers as they swept a doubleheader with the Indians at Victory Field.
The Chasers took Game 1 in extra innings 3-2, then followed it up by thumping Indy 7-1 in Game 2 for their first doubleheader sweep of the regular season. Let’s take a look and see how they did it.
GAME 1:
Before the start of the doubleheader, the Kansas City Royals called up Daniel Lynch IV to start their game in Minnesota. The Chasers turned to Chandler Champlain in Game 1, his second start in Triple-A and moving him up from his expected Game 2 start.
Champlain was not met with a nice welcome by Jack Suwinski. The Indians leadoff hitter took a 3-2 pitch 434ft to center field to put Indianapolis on top 1-0 after an inning of play.
The Chasers would respond with two runs of their own in the 4th Inning. After Devin Mann singled and Nick Pratto walked, Ryan Fitzgerald socked a double to center field that hit off the glove of Suwinski. Mann and Pratto both scored, but Fitzgerald was thrown out at 3rd base. Regardless, Fitz gave the Chasers a 2-1 lead halfway through Game 1.
The Indians wouldn’t go away easily. With two outs in the 5th, Andres Alvarez and Suwinski both singled to set up Henry Davis for a big spot. Davis drilled an 0-2 pitch down the left field line to score Alvarez, but a great throw from Fitzgerald and a better tag from Austin Nola got Suwinski before he crossed the plate. That kept the game tied heading into the final two innings.
Omaha went in order in the 6th and 7th while Colin Selby struck out four in the same span to take us to extra innings. Selby, a former Indian reliever in 2023, left a man on first and a man second in the 6th and 7th, respectively.
In the 8th Inning, Nola bunted Cam Devanney to third base. After John Rave struck out, Drew Waters socked one off the wall in right field to bring Devanney in and give the Storm Chasers a 3-2 lead through seven and a half innings.
Dan Altavilla took the mound for Omaha in the 8th, looking to give the Chasers the win. Altavilla struck out Davis to start his outing, then intentionally walked Jake Lamb to set up a potential double play. The plan worked as Malcolm Nunez grounded a ball to Fitzgerald, who ended Game 1 with the ol’ 6-4-3 double play and the Chasers took Game 1 3-2.
GAME 2:
This game was a makeup of a postponed game last month in Omaha, so the Chasers were designated the home team during the game. Walter Pennington got the start in a bullpen game.
Omaha didn’t have to do too much to strike first in the 1st Inning. John Rave, Drew Waters, Devin Mann, Logan Porter, and Ryan Fitzgerald all walked. Rave and Waters both scored to give Omaha an early 2-0 lead after one.
The Chasers went right back to work in the 2nd Inning. Cam Devanney and John Rave both walked to start the inning. CJ Alexander singled in Devanney, and then Logan Porter singled in Rave. Ryan Fitzgerald hit a double to left field but as Alexander scored, Porter was thrown out at the plate looking to add an already growing lead. Despite that, the Chasers added three runs and made it 5-0 after two innings.
More walks in the 4th Inning allowed Omaha to pad their lead. Logan Porter hit a sacrifice fly to score Rave, his third run of the game. The Chasers took a 6-0 lead into the 5th.
Both teams got a run in the 5th Inning. Indy benefitted from some walks and got one in on an RBI walk from Jake Lamb in the top half of the 5th. In the bottom half, Cam Devanney lashed a triple to right field and came home on a single from Rave. It would be 7-1 Chasers after five innings.
Tyler Duffey and Steven Cruz would throw two scoreless innings to give the Storm Chasers the 7-1 victory.
As mentioned, it is the first time that the Chasers have swept a doubleheader this season. They now lead the week-long series 3-1 with the weekend games to come.
NOTES:
- With the makeup game victory, the Storm Chasers picked up a half-game on Scranton/WB for 1st Place in the IL. They now lead the IL by three games with 21 games left in the first half.
- Devin Mann continued his excellent week by going 2-3 in Game 1 and walking twice in Game 2.
- Ryan Fitzgerald had four RBIs in two games today.
- Chandler Champlain pitched well despite a no-decision. He struck out six and allowed two earned runs on six hits and a walk in five innings pitched.
- Colin Selby picked up his second win of the season in Game 1. Four strikeouts in two innings.
- Walter Pennington was tremendous in Game 2. He threw 41 pitches and struck out six batters while allowing just one hit.
- John Rave was 1-1 with three walks, three runs scored, and an RBI in Game 2. Unusual yet productive stat-line.
- Logan Porter was 2-2 with three RBIs and a walk in Game 2. He’s batting .341 despite not being a regular starter.
- Anthony Veneziano earned his second win going one inning while allowing a run (unearned) on two hits.
- Tyler Duffey made an appearance for the first time since being DFA’d. Finished with two innings pitched allowingtwo walks and a hit while striking out two.
- Another good outing from Steven Cruz. He struck out two in the 7th Inning.
NEXT GAME:
It’s one game only tomorrow night at Victory Field as the Storm Chasers go for the series victory against the Indians. Luis Cessa toes the rubber for Omaha with the first pitch set for 6:05 pm.
