The Omaha Storm Chasers (48-56) bashed the Fresno Grizzlies (61-44) 15-4 Friday night from Chukchansi Park. Behind a 23-hit outburst, the Omaha offense tallied a run in seven of the nine innings. Every batter recorded at least one hit for the Storm Chasers. With the loss, Fresno fell to 19-8
The Omaha Storm Chasers (48-56) bashed the Fresno Grizzlies (61-44) 15-4 Friday night from Chukchansi Park. Behind a 23-hit outburst, the Omaha offense tallied a run in seven of the nine innings. Every batter recorded at least one hit for the Storm Chasers. With the loss, Fresno fell to 19-8 in the first game of a series and 13-5 versus the American conference. The Grizzlies also saw their four-game winning streak come crashing down.
In the visitor's half of the first, Omaha drew first blood when Billy Burns (3-for-5) raced home on a fielder's choice.
Derek Fisher quickly erased the deficit in the bottom of the first when he crushed a solo shot to right field. It was his 10th homer of the season.
Burns gave the Storm Chasers a 2-1 advantage in the top of the second when he skied a sacrifice fly to center.
Jack Mayfield knotted the score at two in the bottom of the second when he launched a dinger to left field. It was his 11th big fly of the year.
Omaha regained a 4-2 lead in the top of the third. Ramón Torres (2-for-6) sharply singled to right, plating Ryan O' Hearn (2-for-6). Then, Jack Lopez (3-for-5) mustered a sacrifice fly to center. The Storm Chasers made it 6-2 in the visitor's half of the fourth when O' Hearn nailed a two-run double to right.
That would end the night for Fresno starter Brock Dykxhoorn (5-2, loss). He lasted three and two-thirds frames, allowing six runs (earned), on 12 hits, one walk and three strikeouts.
Nick Tanielu cut the deficit to 6-3 in the home half of the fourth after he doubled down the right field line, netting Yordan Alvarez.
After an eight-batter fifth inning, Omaha bumped the advantage to 8-3. Frank Schwindel (3-for-7) and Elier Hernandez (3-for-4) each rocked RBI singles to left.
Tyler White cut the deficit to 8-4 in the bottom of the fifth when he lined a single to left, knocking in Jake Marisnick. That extended White's current team-high hit streak to 13 games. In that span, he is 17-for-47 (.362), with seven extra-base knocks, 17 RBI, 13 runs and eight free passes. The 13 games mark the third longest hit streak by a Grizzly in 2018.
A four-run top of the sixth lengthened the Storm Chasers lead to 12-4. Burns blooped a single to right to start the carousel. It continued with a Nicky Lopez (5-for-6) RBI single to right. Then, a groundout and wild pitch finished the scoring.
Omaha grabbed a 15-4 advantage in the visitor's half of the eighth. Schwindel clobbered a double to center, adding Lopez. Then, Torres notched his second RBI of the evening with an infield single. Finally, Donnie Dewees smoked a double to right, forcing in Hernandez.
That would be enough for Richard Lovelady (two frames) to fan the side in the ninth and secure the 15-4 victory. He relieved both Eric Stout (two shutout innings) and Arnaldo Hernandez (2-0) who enjoyed the win. He was booked for four runs (earned), on six hits, two walks and a pair of whiffs in five frames.
Both squads continue the set with game two of four Saturday night from Chukchansi Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PT. Omaha RHP Zach Lovvorn (1-4, 9.25) and Fresno righty Brady Rodgers (0-1, 10.57) are the probable arms. Rodgers will make his first start at home since April 19, 2017.
