Storm Chasers stifle Mud Hens sticks

TOLEDO, OH.: After three consecutive walk-off victories by Toledo began the six-game series, the Omaha Storm Chasers exercised some demons by twirling their sixth shutout of the season in a 5-0 win over the Mud Hens on Friday night at Fifth Third Field.

Maikel Garcia wasted no time getting the Storm Chasers on the board, mashing the second offering of the game from Austin Bergner over the left field wall for a lead-off homer and a 1-0 advantage.

Two batters after Freddy Fermin coaxed a walk to begin the second frame, Jimmy Govern smacked his fourth long ball of the season, bumping Omaha’s lead to 3-0.

The Storm Chasers capitalized on a Mud Hens error and two walks in the top of the fourth to push across another run and increase the margin to 4-0. Garcia’s RBI knock was the only hit of the inning.

Bergner (1-1) took the losing end of the decision in his second career Triple-A start, yielding two hits, four earned runs, four walks, and mixing in six punch outs over 3 and 1/3’s innings.

Back-to-back two-out hits from Garcia and Clay Dungan opposite Logan Shore forced in a ninth inning insurance tally for the Storm Chasers.

Garcia accounted for four of the eight Storm Chasers hits, swinging 4-5 at the top of Omaha’s order. Govern also ensured a multi-hit effort by going 2-3.

Drew Parrish, Collin Snider, and Sam Freeman combined to surrender just four Mud Hens hits on the evening. Parrish (3-6) worked around two hits and three walks over the first six innings to secure the win. Snyder faced the minimum across the next two stanzas. Freeman sidestepped a hit and a walk in the ninth to keep Toledo off the scoreboard.

The Mud Hens bullpen shined on Friday, allowing just one run over the final 5 and 2/3’s innings. Sam Howard entered in relief of Bergner and racked up a couple strikeouts. Nolan Blackwood retired four straight Omaha batters in his appearance. Jacob Barnes gave up three hits but also fanned five over six outs.

Daz Cameron and Josh Lester were the lone Mud Hens hitters to reach base multiple times on the evening. Cameron went 1-2 with two walks and has now reached base in three straight games. Lester extended his season-best on-base streak to 15 consecutive assignments by swatting 1-3 and drawing a walk of his own.

NEXT UP: The Mud Hens and Storm Chasers square off again on Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m.