Omaha outhits Toledo but falls in game one

TOLEDO, Ohio. – Despite outhitting the Toledo Mud Hens 12-7, the Omaha Storm Chasers dropped the series opener 5-4 on a walk-off single on Tuesday from Fifth Third Field. Toledo (54-51) now leads the series 1-0 while Omaha (51-54) leads the season series 7-6.

Omaha started hot, getting a two-run homer from shortstop Maikel Garcia, with center fielder Drew Waters scoring on the blast after drawing a leadoff walk. Left fielder Brent Rooker hit a homer a few pitches later, the seventh time that the Storm Chasers sent back-to-back balls over the outfield fence.

Both players recently joined Triple-A Omaha, by way of very different routes. Rooker was traded from the Padres’ organization at the trade deadline while Garcia has worked his way through the Royals’ minor league system. Rooker now has three homers in five games with the Chasers while Garcia has a pair in four games with Omaha.

Right-hander Jackson Kowar came out of the gates dealing on the mound, striking out eight Mud Hens and allowing no hits and no walks in 4.0 innings of work

Omaha put right-hander Zach Willeman, the Ohio native, on the mound to start the fifth. Andre Lipcius hit a single in the frame, the first hit for Toledo in the game. Willeman was able to force a groundout and keep the score at 3-0 in favor of the Storm Chasers.

The Storm Chasers used a nice defensive play from a pair of players making their Triple-A debuts to end the sixth. Third baseman Nick Loftin fielded a grounder along the third base line, making the throw across the diamond to first baseman Logan Porter to get Spencer Torkelson.

Former Storm Chaser, Jack Lopez sent a ball over the fence with one away in the bottom of the seventh to breakup Omaha’s shutout bid. Dustin Garneau hit a three-run shot to put Toledo ahead 4-3 on left-hander Gabe Speier, forcing a new Storm Chaser pitcher to come into the game.

With one away in the ninth, Waters hit an infield single that looked like it might roll foul before coming to a stop on the infield grass for an infield single. Waters stole his 10th base to put the tying run in scoring position. Garcia drew a walk before Rooker hit Omaha’s second infield single of the inning to juice the bases. Right fielder Brewer Hicklen knotted the score with an RBI walk but a 5-2-3 double play ended the top of the ninth with the score tied 4-4.

The Chasers sent right-hander Ándres Núñez to the hill in the bottom of the ninth. Garneau hit a double off the left field wall to put a man in scoring position with one out. The Mud Hens pinch ran for Garneau, with Josh Lester hitting a single down the right field line to earn the walk-off 5-4 win.

The Storm Chasers and Mud Hens will continue their series on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled at 6:05 p.m. CDT with coverage starting at 5:45 p.m. on the Sarpy County Tourism Pregame Show on 1180 The Zone. Omaha is scheduled to send right-hander Carlos Hernández (2-4, 3.56) to the mounds while Toledo looks to start Bryan Garcia.

After the road trip, the Chasers return home for a six-game set against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre starting on August 23.

The full 2022 schedule can be found here and single-game tickets are now available here.

For more tickets and more information, please visit omahastormchasers.com, call the Werner Park Ticket office at (402) 738-5100, and follow the team on social media. You can follow the team on Twitter @omastormchasers, on Instagram @omahastormchasers, and “like” the team on Facebook at facebook.com/omahastormchasers.