PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers (23-21/56-62) fell 8-6 to the Rochester Red Wings (27-19/72-47) in the series opener on Tuesday night. Carson Roccaforte made his Triple-A debut, reaching base 3 times, while both Abraham Toro and Brett Squires went 3-for-5, but it wasn’t enough to propel Omaha to a victory.
The Red Wings broke onto the scoreboard first when Storm Chasers starter Vince Velasquez was tagged for an RBI single to give Rochester a 1-0 lead.
The Red Wings added to the lead with a solo home run off Velasquez in the top of the 3rd inning, but Omaha came back with 4 runs in the bottom half to take a 4-2 lead. Abraham Toro got the Storm Chasers on the board with a 2-run double, then Jack Pineda drove Toro in with an RBI double and Matthew Lugo capped off the frame with a sacrifice fly.
Velasquez surrendered another solo home run in the top of the 4th inning, cutting Omaha’s lead to 4-3, but he returned with a perfect top of the 5th inning to keep the lead.
In the bottom of the 5th inning, Carson Roccaforte collected his Triple-A hit with an RBI single, then Drew Waters added another run with his own RBI single to extend the Storm Chasers’ advantage to 6-3.
Velasquez returned for the top of the 6th inning, but gave up a one-out solo home run to make it a 6-4 game before Luke Little relieved him with two away and the bases empty, recording a strikeout to end the inning.
The Red Wings tied the score 6-6 in the top of the 7th inning with a 2-run home run off Easton McGee then Matt Moore (0-1) allowed a leadoff home run and RBI single in the top of the 8th inning to make it an 8-6 game.
Sears fired a scoreless top of the 9th inning and Brett Squires hit an RBI single in the bottom half to cut the deficit to 8-7, but despite putting the tying runner on second and go-ahead runner on first, the Storm Chasers couldn’t close the deal.
The Storm Chasers will host the Red Wings for the second game of the series at Werner Park on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 6:35 P.M. CT and Lucas Braun is scheduled to start for Omaha.