PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers (31-40/64-81) fell 6-4 to the Iowa Cubs (33-39/63-81) on Saturday afternoon. The Storm Chasers bullpen combined for 4.0 scoreless innings while both Jacob Berry and Matthew Lugo homered, but it wasn’t enough for a win.
Iowa scored first, taking a 4-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning with a 2-run double, run-scoring wild pitch and RBI groundout off Omaha starter Vince Velasquez (2-2).
Velasquez came back with a perfect top of the 2nd inning and scoreless top of the 3rd inning, but allowed a 2-run single to extend the Cubs’ lead to 6-0 in the top of the 4th inning.
Matthew Lugo led off the bottom of the 4th inning with a solo home run to cut the deficit to 6-1, then Velasquez worked a clean top of the 5th inning.
The Storm Chasers turned to Hunter Patteson for the top of the 6th inning, and he worked a scoreless frame.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, Omaha added 3 runs to bring the gap to 6-4 thanks to an RBI double from Drew Waters and 2-run home run by Jacob Berry.
Patteson kept the Cubs off the board in the top of the 7th inning, then Mason Black pitched a perfect top of the 8th inning and scoreless top of the 9th inning, but the Storm Chasers went down in order in the bottom of the 9th inning to finish the loss.
The Storm Chasers will host the Cubs at Werner Park for their final game of the season on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 P.M. CT and Lucas Braun is in line to start for Omaha.