Redbirds Shutout Chasers 6-0

PAPILLION, NEB. – The Omaha Storm Chasers dropped a second straight game to the Memphis Redbirds, falling 6-0 Saturday on Runza Night at Werner Park.

The Redbirds opened the game with four straight baserunners, using an error, three straight singles and a sacrifice fly to jump out to an early 2-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Anthony Veneziano settled down after the first four reached, retiring his next 10 in a row and 14 of his final 15 hitters, two outs into the fifth inning. Over 4.2 innings, he struck out three and allowed just the two runs (one earned) on three hits.

Walter Pennington relieved Veneziano with two outs in the top of the fifth inning and used a strikeout to end the frame, retiring eight of his nine batters over 2.2 innings of work, with 3 strikeouts. Memphis grew its lead to 3-0 in the sixth inning as Luken Baker crushed a solo homer off Pennington, pushing the Redbirds further ahead.

Pennington got the first out of the eighth inning before handing the ball to right-hander Steven Cruz. Cruz got the second out of the eighth before four straight reached, with a walk and three hits that plated three runs of insurance to make the score 6-0.

Offensively, the Storm Chasers struggled to get much going. A trio of hits in the first inning led to a pair of runners left on, while Omaha also got two runners into scoring position with one out in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but again left two runners on base to end the inning. CJ Alexander and Logan Porter each connected for two hits, with Porter doubling and drawing a walk as well.

Carlos Hernandez took the mound in the ninth and retired all three he faced for a scoreless inning, with a pair of strikeouts for his third perfect outing since being optioned last week.

Porter singled in the bottom of the ninth but Omaha’s offense could not stir up any runs and dropped a second straight game for just the third time this year.

The game marked Omaha’s fourth shutout loss of the year and the first time all season the Storm Chasers lost back-to-back games at home.

The Storm Chasers conclude this week's series against the Memphis Redbirds Sunday, June 9 at Werner Park as first pitch is scheduled for 5:05 p.m. CT and left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic is slated to start for Omaha.