Castillo Delivers Quality Start and Chasers Extend Win Streak to Eight

PAPILLION, NEB. – Max Castillo delivered his third quality start in his last four outings and earned his second straight win, as the Omaha Storm Chasers extended their winning streak to eight straight games with a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers.

Castillo got early run support, as the Chasers scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and led the rest of the night.

To open the frame, Samad Taylor was hit by a pitch and Kyle Isbel walked, then Matt Beaty drove them both in with a two-run double. Three pitches later, Logan Porter singled in beaty for a 3-0 Omaha lead.

Three runs of support was exactly what Castillo needed, as he held the Clippers to a pair of runs over 6.0 innings, solo homers in the third and sixth innings. While he did not strike out a batter, he also did not walk a batter, needing only 75 pitches to cruise through his six innings of work.

The quality start marked Castillo’s third over his last four starts, his second straight and set him up for his second straight win.

James McArthur followed Castillo and fired a 1-2-3 seventh inning on 10 pitches, before running into trouble in the eight. He loaded the bases with one out and recorded a strikeout before handing the ball to Evan Sisk, who stranded all three runners on by inducing an inning-ending flyout.

Leading by just a run, 3-2, Omaha added a run in the eight, as Tyler Gentry walked, was singled to third by Beaty and scored on a sac fly from Porter, pushing the lead to two runs.

Brooks Kriske took over in the ninth and made quick work of the Clippers, with a 1-2-3 inning on 11 pitches to earn his fifth save of the season and his fourth in his last five outings and extend Omaha’s winning streak to eight games, while securing at least a series split with Columbus.

The Storm Chasers will try to continue the winning streak and secure a series win Friday at 7:05 p.m. CT as left-hander Anthony Veneziano pitches for Omaha.