PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers (23-22/56-63) fell 7-2 to the Rochester Red Wings (28-19/73-47) on Wednesday night, despite strong relief pitching. Omaha’s bullpen combined for 4.1 innings without allowing an earned run, but the Red Wings stifled the Storm Chasers offense in the 5-run loss.
After a pair of scoreless innings from Omaha starter Lucas Braun (2-1) to open the game, Rochester tagged him for a pair of runs on a solo homer and RBI double in the top of the 3rd inning to take a 2-0 edge.
Braun then surrendered an RBI ground and a 2-run home run in the top of the 4th inning to extend the Red Wings’ lead to 5-0.
Rochester added another run to its lead to make it a 6-0 game in the top of the 5th inning with an RBI single off Braun, then Omaha turned to Nolan Hoffman out of the bullpen with a runner on first and two outs, and Hoffman struck out the only hitter he faced in the frame to end the inning.
Hoffman came back for the 6th inning and a fielding error allowed another run to cross and bring the score to 7-0, but Scott Barlow worked a clean 7th inning to keep the line the same.
Held off the bases into the 6th inning and held hitless into the 7th, Omaha finally got on the board in the bottom of the 7th inning when Matthew Lugo hit an RBI single to cut the deficit to 7-1, then Scott Alexander struck out two in a perfect top of the 8th inning.
Anthony Gose pitched a scoreless top of the 9th inning, but Omaha only managed one more run on Jacob Berry’s RBI single in the bottom half, finishing the 5-run loss.
The Storm Chasers and Red Wings will face off at Werner Park again on Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 P.M. CT and Henry Williams is in line to start for Omaha.