Sounds Starter Quiets Omaha Bats

OMAHA, Neb. - The Omaha Storm Chasers (8-8) were held to their lowest hit total in a nine-inning game, only managing five hits off Nashville Sounds (8-8) starter Mike Fiers as they dropped the series opener 5-1. Omaha has lost five of eight meetings with their former division rival this year.

Fiers went eight innings, the longest start against the Storm Chasers this season, striking out a career-best 12 batters as he limited Omaha to a single run. The 12 strikeouts were the first time an opposing pitcher has totaled double-digit strikeouts in nearly four years, dating back to Lance Lynn for Memphis in July of the 2010 season. Omaha entered the game tied with Tacoma for the best team batting average, but have been held to one run or less by Nashville starters in six of the eight games.

Omaha starter P.J. Walters suffered a second straight loss against Nashville even though he tossed a quality start, giving up only three runs in seven innings. It was the longest outing of any Chasers starter this season, and Walters gave up his three runs on back-to-back RBI doubles by Kevin Mattison and Pete Orr in the fifth. The Sounds put the a 3-1 game away scoring two ninth inning runs off reliever Cory Wade.

Paulo Orlando provided the lone Omaha run on a RBI single in the seventh inning, and is tied for the second most hits on the team with Brett Eibner at 19 on the year (trailing Matt Fields at 22). That hit total of 19 eclipses the opening months of Orlando's 2013 and 2011 seasons with Omaha combined (which was 18 hits).

The Storm Chasers will look to rebound with right-hander Aaron Brooks (0-0, 5.40 ERA) on the hill, but the Omaha offense will have a tough task as they face the reigning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year in Johnny Hellweg (1-2, 4.96 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. on 1180 Zone 2 The Duece and MiLB.TV.