The Omaha Storm Chasers have a bad habit of lulling the other team to sleep just to punch them in the gut late in a game.

Unlike most bad habits, this isn’t one they should break.

A go-ahead, two-run home run from Cam Devanney and some defensive web-gems from the Omaha shortstop allowed the Storm Chasers to escape St. Paul with a 3-1, series-opening victory.

The Chasers have won three in a row overall and four straight against the Saints this season. They’re now 5-2 against St. Paul in 2024.

Coming off last weekend against Indianapolis, the Chasers had a hard time jumping out early. St. Paul scored the game’s first run off an RBI single from DaShawn Keirsey Jr. that scored Alex Isola, who doubled to left to start the 2nd Inning.

The Saints had a chance to add to the lead in the 5th with a runner on third and two outs, but Cam Devanney made his first of two highlight-reel plays to keep the deficit at one after five.

Offensively, Omaha couldn’t solve St. Paul starter Louie Varland, who tossed six scoreless innings allowing just two hits and one walk. He struck out seven Chasers in his outing.

But as we’ve all come to understand this year, the Chasers are the Triple-A version of The Terminator. They’re never dead until they’re melted into a shiny, silver pool on the sidewalk. 

With Brian O’Keefe pinch-hitting for Austin Nola in the 8th inning, he sent Josh Winder’s first pitch over the wall in center field (402ft) and flashed a heart to the Omaha bullpen to tie the game at one. It was his 13th home run of the season. The Chasers had a chance to take the lead with second and third and one out, but CJ Alexander and Tyler Gentry struck out to end the inning.

Nelson Velazquez drew a one-out walk in the 9th Inning and stole second base after Ryan Fitzgerald struck out. With two down in the 9th and a runner on second, Devanney hit the first pitch of his at-bat 400 ft to left-center field to give the Storm Chasers a two-run lead heading to the Bottom of the 9th Inning.

St. Paul mounted a last-chance comeback in the 9th to make things interesting. An error from Nick Pratto and a hit by pitch put the game-tying runs aboard for the Saints. After a strikeout, Devanney made another diving play to save at least a run and hold it to an infield single to load the bases. Evan Sisk then got Payton Eeles to ground out to first base to end the game and give the Chasers the win.

NOTES: 

• Cam Devanney made two web-gems and went 2-3 with a walk, and the go-ahead homer. He has 52 RBIs this season and 16 home runs. 
• Tyler Gentry went 2-4 with two singles and a strikeout. He was the only other Chaser to have more than one hit.
• Nate Eaton hit his 23rd double of the season
• CJ Alexander and Nick Pratto went 0-4 with a strikeout each.
• Nelson Velazquez went 0-2, but walked twice and scored the go-ahead run on Devanney’s homer.
• Austin Cox got the start in a “bullpen game”. He went three full innings allowing an earned run on three hits while walking two and striking out four.
• Noah Murdock pitched the next three innings and allowed just one hit while striking out three. Solid game.
• Tyler Duffey walked one in an inning of work.
• Jonathan Bowlan made his second appearance out of the bullpen and was credited with his eighth win. Bowlan tossed 1.2 innings while allowing one hit and striking out one.
• Evan Sisk picked up his sixth save.
• Mike Jirschele was ejected in the ninth, arguing about the pitch clock not being reset before Bowlan faced Yunior Severino. Bowlan got called for a pitch clock violation, but it didn’t matter as he got Severino to fly out in the at-bat.

NEXT GAME:

Quick turnaround for both teams as the Chasers and Saints will play Game 2 of the series tomorrow at 1:07 pm. According to the game notes, it appears Anthony Veneziano is scheduled to start for Omaha tomorrow afternoon.