RedHawks Fall In Game 1 To Omaha

The Oklahoma City RedHawks opened the PCL American Conference Finals with a 3-1 loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers Wednesday in front of 4,309 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The RedHawks fell to 0-1 in the series, dropping the opening game of a playoff series for the eighth straight time.

Oklahoma City starting pitcher Asher Wojciechowski (0-1) threw eight-plus innings for the American Southern Division champion RedHawks, allowing three runs and five hits. He walked two and struck out five in the loss. Wojciechowski allowed one run and one hit in the first inning then retired 14 straight Storm Chasers batters before allowing three hits in the sixth inning.

Outfielder George Springer collected two of Oklahoma City's five hits. Second baseman Christian Colon paced the Storm Chasers (1-0), going 2-for-4 with two RBI and scoring one run.

Pitcher Brian Sanches started for the Storm Chasers as a late replacement for scheduled starter Yordano Ventura. Sanches (1-0) earned the win, holding the RedHawks scoreless through 5.2 innings pitched. He allowed four hits, two walks and struck out two.

Omaha took the first lead Wednesday.

A sacrifice fly by Ben Broussard scored Irving Falu for a 1-0 Omaha lead in the top of the first inning.

A single by Colon gave Omaha a 2-0 lead in the sixth. Broussard later singled to right field and had a chance to extend Omaha's lead, but Che-Hsuan Lin's throw to catcher Carlos Perez at the plate was in time to tag out Colon.

Pitcher Maikel Cleto entered the game for Omaha in the sixth inning and walked back-to-back RedHawks batters to load the bases with two outs for designated hitter Japhet Amador, who struck out to end the inning.

The first two batters for Oklahoma City in the bottom of the seventh inning – Lin and Perez – drew walks. An Omaha throwing error advanced the runners. Jimmy Paredes later reached on Omaha's second error of the inning and scored Lin to cut Omaha's lead to 2-1. Jose Martinez flew into a double play and Perez got tagged out on a throw to home to end the seventh inning.

The American Northern Division champion Storm Chasers extended their lead to 3-1 with a solo homer by Colon to lead off the top of the ninth inning. The homer was the first allowed by Wojciechowski since June 27. He entered the game with a 0.89 ERA against the Storm Chasers during the regular season and Wednesday marked the first time Omaha scored more than one run against Wojciechowski.

The RedHawks continue their best-of-five playoff series against Omaha at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.