Hernandez, Chasers Best Express 6-3

Storm Chasers right fielder Elier Hernandez recorded three hits and drove in two runs in his Triple-A debut, while starting pitcher Jonathan Dziedzic tossed a quality outing and southpaw Richard Lovelady finished the job with two and two-thirds innings of scoreless ball in Omaha's 6-3 win over the Round Rock Express in front of 7,214 fans on Friday night at Werner Park.

Prior to the contest, the Storm Chasers and Kansas City Royals announced a two-year extension to their Player Development Contract, extending the longest Triple-A affiliation in Minor League Baseball to last through at least the 2020 season. The Omaha franchise also honored former Omaha Royals manager Jack McKeon in a pre-game ceremony along with former members of the franchise's front office in General Manager Bob Quinn, Assistant General Manager and Play-by-Play Broadcaster Bill Beck, and Vice President and General Manager Doug Stewart.
Hernandez (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI) did not waste time making an impression, lining a single to center in his initial at-bat bat for his first Triple-A knock in the second. One inning later after an RBI groundout and DH Cam Gallagher 's RBI double, Hernandez ripped a run-scoring double to left to score Gallagher and push the Storm Chasers ahead 3-2.
Hernandez then slapped an RBI single to center for his third and final hit of the evening to increase Omaha's lead to two in the fifth. 1B Frank Schwindel capped the Storm Chasers' scoring in the sixth with a run-scoring knock to drive in his team-leading 60th run. Schwindel (2-5, RBI) and Gallagher (2-3, R, 2 2B, RBI, BB) joined Hernandez in posting multi-hit efforts for Omaha.
Round Rock threatened in the seventh by loading the bases, however Lovelady entered and induced an inning-ending double play to quell the threat. Lovelady (2.2 IP, BB, 2 K) tossed 2.2 hitless frames to notched his fourth save of the year in support of Dziedzic (6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K), who earned the win to improve to 4-8. Express reliever Chris Jensen (5.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, K) suffered the defeat.
Omaha and Round Rock continue their four-game weekend homestand with a split-admission doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of the opener is set for 12:05pm, with game two scheduled for 7:05pm. Both games are slated to last seven innings per Pacific Coast League rules. The Storm Chasers are anticipated to give the nod to RHP Arnaldo Hernandez (0-0, 1.93) in game one, with the Express expected to send RHP Austin Bibens-Dirkx (2-4, 4.80) to the hill.
Tickets are still available all Storm Chasers contests throughout the 2018 season, and may be purchased at www.omahastormchasers.com/tickets as well as by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100. To view Ticket Office hours, please click here.