PAPILLION, NEB.- In the first of a six-game series, the Omaha Storm Chasers dropped a fourth straight game and lost 10-3 to the Toledo Mud Hens Tuesday at Fifth Third Field.
Toledo scored twice in the first on a pair of bases loaded walks and led the rest of the way, also scoring two in the second on a bases-loaded double play and solo home run for an early 4-0 advantage over Omaha.
Storm Chasers starting pitcher Chandler Champlain worked into the fourth inning but couldn’t get an out in the frame, as the first five baserunners reached and three runs scored on a pair of singles. Champlain allowed a season-high seven runs on eight hits over 3.0 innings with four walks and just two strikeouts, leaving two runners on base for left-hander Cox.
Cox worked 2.0 scoreless innings, stranding the inherited runners in the fourth inning and pitching a scoreless fifth, but by the time the fourth inning ended, the Chasers trailed 7-1.
Omaha outhit Toledo 13-12, but only managed to score three runs, stranding a season-high 13 runners on base in the process.
After loading the bases with no outs in the first and leaving them loaded, the Storm Chasers finally worked onto the board in the third inning. Nate Eaton singled and scored on a triple from CJ Alexander, his third of the season and second of three hits in the game.
The Chasers singled three straight times with one out in the fourth to load the bases, but again failed to score, before Toledo blew the game open and knocked Champlain out of the game in the bottom half.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Toledo’s Jace Jung struck his second homer of the game to right field, a two-run shot of Anthony Simonelli, and increased the large lead to 9-1.
Alexander answered Jung’s second homer of the game with his ninth long ball of the season in the top of the seventh inning, a solo shot to right center field that the lead down to 9-2 in favor of Toledo. The home run marked Alexander’s seventh 3-hit game, adding on to his 21st multi-hit game of the season.
Noah Murdock worked a 1-2-3 seventh inning in his Triple-A debut and struck out two, but the Mud Hens added another run in the bottom of the eighth with two hits and two walks off John McMillon to keep the game out of reach.
Omaha had one last chance in the top of the ninth inning as a single by Rave and a walk by Devin Mann set up Brian O’Keefe for an RBI single that scored Rave for a 10-3 score that held to be final.
The Storm Chasers continue this week’s road series against the Toledo Mud Hens as game two is Wednesday, June 12 at Fifth Third Field with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. CT and right-hander Andrew Hoffman is slated to start for Omaha.
