Storm Chasers Win Series Opener 6-1 Over Indians

PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers (30-32/63-73) won the series opener 6-1 over the Indianapolis Indians (36-28/67-72) on Tuesday night. Tony Gonsolin (1-1) tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in his 3rd rehab start of the year while Brett Squires drove in 3 as part of a 3-for-4 night in the victory.

Gonsolin worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 1st inning and fired a 1-2-3 bottom of the 2nd inning before Squires put the Storm Chasers on the board in the top of the 3rd inning with a 2-run double to give Omaha a 2-0 lead.

Gonsolin returned with back-to-back perfect frames in the 3rd and 4th innings, retiring 11 straight batters between the 1^st and 4^th innings, before the Storm Chasers added 4 runs in the top of the 5th inning, extending their lead to 6-0. Squires drove in the first run on an RBI single, then Drew Waters plated him with a 2-run home run and Jacob Berry capped off the scoring with an RBI double.

The Storm Chasers turned back to Gonsolin for the bottom of the 5th inning, and despite allowing his first runner aboard since the 1st inning, he induced a double play to face the minimum in the frame. Gonsolin finished the game going 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing just 3 hits and a walk while striking out 2.

Ryan Ramsey took over for Gonsolin to begin the bottom of the 6th inning and after firing scoreless 6th and 7th innings, Hunter Owen replaced him with two outs and runners on the corners in the bottom of the 8th inning for his Triple-A debut. The Indians got on the board in the bottom of the 8th inning, plating a run on an RBI single off Owen before he finished the frame with Omaha leading 6-1.

Owen came back out for the bottom of the 9th inning, retiring all 3 batters he faced to finish the 6-1 win.

The Storm Chasers will return to Victory Field for the 2nd game of the series on Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 5:35 P.M. CT and Henry Williams is scheduled to start for Omaha.