Squires Propels Storm Chasers Over Mud Hens

TOLEDO, OHIO – A big day from Brett Squires propelled the Omaha Storm Chasers (19-16/52-57) to a 5-1 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens (18-17/52-27) on Wednesday night. Squires went 2-for-5 with a double, home run and 3 RBI while the bullpen combined to go 4.1 scoreless innings as Omaha tied the series 1 game apiece.

Squires opened the game with a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 1st inning, giving the Storm Chasers a 1-0 lead.

Omaha starter Vince Velasquez opened the game with 3 straight scoreless frames, allowing just 1 hit over that stretch, but surrendered a game-tying sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 4th inning to knot the score 1-1.

Velasquez retired the first 2 batters in the bottom of the 5th inning, but after allowing a two-out single, Scott Alexander came on to finish the frame.

Alexander then worked around a 2-out double in the bottom of the 6th inning and Connor Thomas (1-0) pitched a perfect bottom of the 7th inning in his Storm Chasers debut.

Squires followed with a go-ahead 2-run home run in the top of the 8th inning, putting Omaha back on top 3-1.

Carlos Duran also made his Storm Chasers debut, taking over for Thomas in the bottom of the 8th inning and delivering a scoreless frame.

Omaha added to its lead in the top of the 9th inning, with Jack Pineda launching a leadoff home run and Alejo Lopez collecting an RBI on a sacrifice bunt to make it 5-1 Storm Chasers.

Omaha turned to Justin Topa in the bottom of the 9th inning and he worked around a pair of runners to finish the frame scoreless and close out the victory.

The Mud Hens and Storm Chasers will play again at Fifth Third Field on Thursday evening for the third game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 P.M. CT and Lucas Braun is scheduled to make his first start for Omaha.