IL Omaha Storm Chasers

Chasers Force Series Split and Rally with Two Homers in 9th Inning

Published on May 14, 2023 under International League (IL)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


MOOSIC, PENN. - Home runs from Brewer Hicklen and Samad Taylor in the top of the 9th inning broke what was a tie entering the inning and the Omaha Storm Chasers head home with a series split, winning Sunday's series final 6-3 over the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

While the RailRiders scored a run in the first, the Storm Chasers responded with two in the second. CJ Alexander tied the game with his team-leading seventh home run of the season, then after Jakson Reetz reached base on a dropped third strike, Hicklen doubled him in to give Omaha the lead.

After Alexander tripled in the fourth inning, Reetz doubled him home to keep ahead, a pivotal run as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre scored in the bottom of the fourth on a bases-loaded walk.

While the RailRiders tied the game in the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer, Omaha immediately responded as Hicklen led off the top of the ninth with his first home run of the year. After Dairon Blanco walked and stole second and third, Taylor cranked a two-run homer out the other way, his first long ball in over a month, to add a pair of runs of insurance for the 6-3 score that held to be final. Blanco's two steals increased his Triple-A best to 24 this season, with 11 steals in 9 games in the month of May.

While Omaha starting pitcher Drew Parrish could not pitch out of the fourth inning, the Chasers' bullpen was stellar behind him. Andrés Núñez, Evan Sisk and Collin Snider combined for 3.2 scoreless frames through the end of the seventh and while Jonah Dipoto surrendered the game-tying homer in the eighth, Nick Wittgren pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning on just seven pitches to earn his fifth save of the year.

The five relievers combined for 5.2 innings of one-run ball with just the one run allowed on three hits and two walks, while striking out seven to combine with Drew Parrish's six for 13 strikeouts on the day as a staff.

Omaha heads home next week to begin a six-game series at Werner Park with the Toledo Mud Hens, beginning at 6:35 p.m. CT on Tuesday.

Check out the Omaha Storm Chasers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



International League Stories from May 14, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central