Alec Marsh was the headliner coming into today’s series finale in Rochester, but the Chasers offense put together their best game to earn a split of the series. 

After being locked down for most of the series, the Omaha Storm Chasers put up five runs in the first inning and stifled the Rochester Red Wings offense for the third straight game en route to a 9-1 win at Innovative Field this afternoon.

In a potential IL Championship preview, the Chasers outscored the Red Wings 12-1 in the final three games of the seriesto earn the split after losing the first three games.

Omaha has had a problem of starting slow over the last couple of weeks. Today, the Chasers got on the board instantly. John Rave, Drew Waters, and Nick Loftin each singled to start the game. The former’s single scored the latter to make it 1-0. After Tyler Gentry walked to load the bases, CJ Alexander took a hanging breaking ball 391ft to right field to clear the bases and give the Chasers a 5-0 lead after the first inning.

Marsh only went three innings for the Chasers this afternoon but pitched very well. He threw only 38 pitches (25 for strikes) allowed just one hit and walked one while striking out four. 

Omaha extended the lead in the 6th Inning when Alexander took another hanging breaking ball 431ft to left field to make it 6-0. CJ finished the game 2-5 with five RBIs and two homers, his 14th and 15th of the season. 

The Red Wings broke the Chasers shutout streak after 23.2 innings. In the Bottom of the 6th, Jose Tena scored on a fielder’s choice after Omaha couldn’t convert a double play. Nick Loftin recorded a groundout to end the inning.

The Storm Chasers put the game to bed in the 7th Inning. A single and two walks loaded up the bases for Omaha to start the inning. Cam Devanney hit an RBI single to score Nick Loftin, Ryan Fitzgerald then hit a sac fly that brought home Alexander, and Nick Pratto scored on an RBI single from Austin Nola. That added three runs and made it 9-1 Omaha heading into the stretch.

Rochester loaded the bases in the 9th Inning, but Noah Murdock struck out Jose Tena to end the game. 

NOTES: 

• In the final three games against Rochester, the Chasers outscored the Red Wings 12-1, outhit them 21-11, and shut out the Wings for 23.2 consecutive innings. It felt like Omaha was going to be run out of New York after those first three games. The resiliency of this team is undeniable.
• Nick Loftin went 2-5 with an RBI and he also scored twice. He wraps up a solid weekend by going 5-9 in his last two games.
• John Rave and Drew Waters both went 1-4 with a run and a walk each. 
• Tyler Gentry had a nice bounce-back game going 2-4 with a walk and a run scored. 
• Cam Devanney picked up his team-leading 56th RBI of the season.
• Andrew Hoffman picked up the win, his third of the season. After relieving Marsh in the 4th Inning, Hoffman went the next three innings and allowed one run on one hit while walking one and striking out two.
• Austin Cox went 1.1 innings while allowing one hit and one walk. He struck out two.
• Noah Murdock finished the game, going the final 1.2 innings. He gave up two hits while walking two and striking out one.

NEXT GAME:

The Storm Chasers are back home on Tuesday night to begin a 12-game homestand. Omaha will be at home for three of the next four weeks, starting Tuesday night against the Iowa Cubs.