Some days you can climb out of a hole and get away with it, other days you can start climbing out of a hole before the other guys start re-digging your grave.

Rodolfo Duran and CJ Alexander both doubled and drove in runs, but the Omaha Storm Chasers couldn’t complete the rally in a 6-2 loss to the St. Paul Saints at CHS Field this afternoon.

The Chasers three-game winning streak is snapped and it is St. Paul’s first win against Omaha since mid-May.

The Saints scored four runs in the first three innings off Omaha starter Anthony Veneziano. Yunior Severino hit an RBI single in the 1st Inning, an RBI double by Wynton Bernard plated a second run in the 2nd Inning, and a sac fly by Chris Williams followed by another RBI double from Bernard made it 4-0 Saints after four innings.

The Chasers mounted another comeback late in the game. CJ Alexander hit his 12th homer of the season over the right field fence in the 6th to end the shutout. Rodolfo Duran added a second run with an RBI double in the 7th to score Ryan Fitzgerald to cut the St. Paul lead to 4-2 after seven and a half innings.

It looked as if the Chasers were going to mount one of their classic comebacks in the 8th when Nate Eaton drew a one-out walk, but he was caught stealing second base for the second out. CJ Alexander doubled to try to keep things going, but Tyler Gentry struck out to end the inning.

The Saints made them pay in their half of the eighth. Anthony Prato hit an RBI triple and later scored on a single from Rylan Bannon to give the Saints a 6-2 lead, which ultimately put the game on ice.

NOTES:

• The Chasers are having a SERIOUS problem with their slow starts. Up until Alexander’s home run, their fourth hit of the game, Omaha had seven combined hits against starting pitchers in 16.2 IP. That is not good enough to win, even if a miraculous comeback wins you a game.
• Rodolfo Duran had a really good game. 3-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
• CJ Alexander went 2-4 with a homer (12) and a double.
• Nate Eaton and Tyler Gentry both singled. They finished 1-4 each.
• Anthony Veneziano pitched five innings allowing four earned runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out three. He took his fourth loss of the season.
• John McMillon struck out two and allowed one hit and walk.
• Will Klein struck out the side after allowing a single and a walk to begin the 7th Inning.
• Carlos Hernandez gave up two runs on three hits in the 8th.
• The Chasers pitching staff struck out a combined ten Saints in the game.

NEXT GAME:

The Chasers will square off with St. Paul tomorrow night at 7:07pm in Game 3 of their series. Chandler Champlain is scheduled to get another start for Omaha.