Storm Chasers Top RedHawks Again

A pair of two-run doubles staked the Omaha Storm Chasers to an early lead, and the Oklahoma City RedHawks had another tough day at the plate, falling 4-1 Sunday afternoon at Werner Park.

The RedHawks (16-15) have dropped four of their last five games. Over their past six contests they have totaled just 10 runs and scored two or fewer runs five times. They were hitless with runners in scoring position Sunday going 0-for-6, and are now 4-for-34 over the past six games.

Jesus Flores gave Omaha (13-16) a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a two-run double to left-center field.

In the next inning, Matt Fields did the same, and his two-run two-bagger down the third base line pushed the lead to 4-0.

For most of the afternoon the RedHawks were held quiet by Storm Chasers starting pitcher Sugar Ray Marimon, who allowed one run and seven hits over a season-high seven innings. Marimon (3-1) struck out four and did not allow a walk.

The RedHawks scored in the seventh on a solo home run by Andy Simunic. It was Simunic's first homer since July 20, 2012 while paying for Double-A Corpus Christi, as well as his first home run in 72 career games with Oklahoma City.

After Simunic's home run, Marimon and reliever Kameron Loe held the RedHawks without a hit for the remainder of the game and retired the six of the final seven batters.

Loe pitched the final two innings to record his first save of the season, and his first save in the Pacific Coast League since July 22, 2008 while playing for the RedHawks.

Entering Sunday, RedHawks starting pitcher Rudy Owens had allowed one run and eight over his three previous outings, spanning 13 innings. Against the Storm Chasers he gave up four runs and a season-high seven hits while becoming the first RedHawk pitcher to complete six innings. Owens (2-1) also allowed two walks, doubling his season total. He finished with three strikeouts while picking up his first loss of the season.

Owens improved as the game went on, retiring 10 of the final 12 hitters he faced following Fields' double.

The RedHawks will try and earn a series split when they meet the Storm Chasers at 11:05 a.m. Monday.