Lopez's 4-Hit Debut Helps Omaha Smash Nashville 10-1

Storm Chasers shortstop Nicky Lopez clubbed four hits in his Triple-A debut, including a double and a home run, designated hitter Ryan O'Hearn drove in three runs and also smashed one of the five longballs hit by Omaha, and starting pitcher Trevor Oaks spun another excellent outing in a 10-1 victory over the Nashville Sounds on Friday evening at Werner Park.

Lopez, a Texas League Mid-Season All-Star who led the circuit in hits at the time of his promotion to Omaha on Friday, lined a single to right in his first Triple-A plate appearance in the opening inning and came plateward on O'Hearn's single to left to highlight a two-run first. The Creighton alum later led off the fifth by smashing a single right back up the middle, before going deep in the sixth with a two-run opposite field shot to left as part of a four-run frame that increased the Storm Chasers' margin to 6-1. He capped his stellar debut by driving a double into the left-center field gap in the ninth.
C Cam Gallagher began the power surge with a two-run homer in the sixth inning prior to Lopez's longball. O'Hearn and 1B Frank Schwindel followed in the next frame with back-to-back blasts prior to 2B Ramón Torres lofting a solo shot of his own to left to complete a three-homer seventh. O'Hearn then capped Omaha's offensive output with an RBI double to left to score Lopez in the eighth.
Lopez (4-5, 3 R, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), O'Hearn (3-4, R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, BB), Torres (2-4, R, HR, RBI) and RF Paulo Orlando (2-5, R, RBI) all recorded two or more knocks for the Storm Chasers. Sounds 2B Steve Lombardozzi (2-3, 2B, BB) was the lone batter from his side to post a multi-hit effort. Omaha's five big flies were a single-game high in 2018, and the most recorded by the Storm Chasers in a contest since crushing five roundtrippers on May 22, 2015 versus Reno.
Oaks (6.0 IP, 6 H, R, ER, BB, 4 K) earned his team-best fifth victory, yielding a lone earned run on six hits in six solid innings pitched. The right-hander continued a strong run with Omaha and has relinquished a combined three earned runs over his last seven outings. Relievers Eric Stout (1.0 IP, K) and Michael Mariot (2.0 IP, H, 3 K) joined forces for the final three scoreless innings, while Nashville starter James Naile (4.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, K) suffered the defeat.
The Storm Chasers and Sounds continue their five-game homestand on Saturday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT. Omaha is anticipated to give the ball to RHP Scott Barlow (1-2, 4.85), with Nashville expected to send RHP Raúl Alcántara (3-1, 5.09) to the hill.
Tickets are still available for that game and all remaining Storm Chasers home dates in 2018, and may be purchased at www.omahastormchasers.com/tickets as well as by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100. To view Ticket Office hours, please click here.