The Omaha Storm Chasers (14-9) fell in to an early 7-0 hole after the first two innings to the Iowa Cubs (8-14) and could not recover as the division rival Cubs took the series finale 10-6. Iowa spoiled the Storm Chasers bid to win their fifth consecutive series, a feat they had not accomplished since 2005, and the I-80 rivals have now split all five series in Werner Park history.

The Cubs sent eight men to the plate in both the first and second innings against Omaha starter Ryan Verdugo and scored all the offense they would need to secure the win with seven runs in the first two frames. Iowa would total eight runs and three long balls off Verdugo in his 4.2 innings of work, both highs for the left-hander in his 53 total starts in his professional career. The ten runs for the Cubs in the game was the first time this season the Storm Chasers have given up double-digit runs in their 11 home games so far this season.

The Storm Chasers got as close as 8-4 in the sixth inning as outfielder Xavier Nady and Adam Moore both hit solo homers, but the Cubs put the game out of reach by responding in the next half inning with two runs of their own. Nady leads Omaha with five homers this season, after he only totaled 10 homers with four different clubs in 58 games played last season. David Lough hit a homer in his second consecutive game in the a ninth inning for the sixth homer of the game between the two clubs, a new season high for combined round-trippers in a game. With the homer Lough extended his hitting streak to nine games, and during the streak he has totaled 21 hits and 16 runs scored.

The Storm Chasers now head to New Orleans to start a stretch of 12 road games in their next 16 contests

The Omaha Storm Chasers (7-6) were held to a season-low four hits by the Albuquerque Isotopes (8-5), but despite the poor offensive day held a lead late in the game only to lose in extra innings by a score of 3-1. It was Omaha’s first loss this season when leading after seven innings.

The Storm Chasers held a 1-0 advantage in the eighth inning until Isotopes right-fielder Alex Castellanos hit a two-out solo homer to tie the game, and forced extra innings as Omaha could not respond in the eighth or ninth inning.

In the extra frame Chasers reliever Louis Coleman gave up his first runs of the season by allowing four consecutive two-out hits, including two straight RBI singles to designated hitter Rusty Ryal and catcher Tim Federowicz. Albuquerque totaled 13 hits in the game, with 11 of those hits coming with two outs.

Nick Tepesch was solid through five innings as Round Rock edged Omaha, 3-1, Thursday night in the 2013 season opener. The win knocked the Storm Chasers from the top spot in the American Conference North Division for the first time since April 23, 2011, a span of 269 games. The Chasers scored their lone run in the fifth when Willy Taveras reached on a fielder’s choice, advance to third on an infield hit and throwing error and then scored on a David Lough fielder’s choice grounder.

The series continues Friday night with Omaha left-hander Chris Dwyer taking the mound against Round Rock righty Justin Grimm.

The Reno Aces clinched the 2012 Pacific Coast League Championship with an 8-2 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers at Werner Park.  Doug Davis (0-1) was hit with the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, over seven hits in 4.1 innings pitched as the Storm Chasers were looking to repeat as PCL champs. Adam Moore drove in both of Omaha’s runs with his two-run single in the seventh inning.

In the fourth, Reno scored when Irving Falu and Anthony Seratelli each had a throwing error on the same play to score the Aces’ Taylor Harbin. Reno extended their lead to 3-0 in the fifth when Harbin singled in a run. Michael Mariot threw a wild pitch that scored Tyler Bortnick.

Mariot pitched to two batters in the sixth and gave up a triple and an RBI double to Tyler Kuhn. Brandon Sisk then gave up a sacrifice fly to Mike Jacobs.

In the home half of the seventh, a Clint Robinson single was followed up by a Rey Navarro double, to set up Moore for his two-run single.  Reno scored three runs in the eighth off of Donnie Joseph, who worked through a third of an inning, to put the Storm Chasers in an 8-2 hole.

Anthony Seratelli, Max Ramirez and Mitch Maier all hit home runs in a five-run fifth inning to power Omaha to a 9-6 victory over Reno Wednesday night in Game 2 of Pacific Coast League Championship Series at Aces Ballpark.

The Storm Chasers, who gave up three long balls in the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game, returned the favor. Seratelli belted a two-run shot, to increase the lead to 4-1. Myers followed with a single and Omaha native Zach Kroenke took over for starter Daniel Cabrera and Ramirez launched another two-run homer and Maier went back-to-back to make it a six-run game.

Reno responded with four in the home half of Ryan Verdugo. He allowed five runs on eight hits while walking one and fanning six.