Mud Hens open series in Omaha with win

OMAHA, NV - The Toledo Mud Hens use a big second inning to storm past the Omaha Storm Chasers 9-2.

Starting on the mound for the Storm Chasers was Jonathan Heasley. Heasley entered the game with an 8.00 ERA and a 1-3 record on the season. Heasley was able to work a perfect first inning for Omaha.

Ashton Goudeau was the starter on the mound for the Mud Hens. Goudeau entered the game with 6.28 ERA and a 1-3 record. The Storm Chasers could load the bases after three straight walks with two outs. Nick Loftin hit a sharp ground ball to the shortstop Corey Joyce who made a diving stop but was unable to get anyone out and with that, the game's first run was scored, giving Omaha a 1-0 lead. Goudeau was able to retire the next batter and keep the damage to one run.

In the top of the second inning, the Mud Hens' offense exploded. With one out in the Inning Andre Lipcius launched a solo home run to tie the game at one. Later in the inning, Andrew Knapp hit a two-out single, then Jonathan Davis doubled to the right-center field gap to give the Mud hens a 2-1 lead. The next batter Corey Joyce walked, then Justyn-Henry Malloy singled to right center field to add the third run of the inning for the Hens. With runners on first and third Parker Meadows launched a three-run home run over the rightfield wall to cap off a six-run second inning for the Mud Hens.

Layne Henderson entered on the mound from the bullpen for the Mud Hens. The Storm Chasers were able to put runners on first and second with two outs but Henderson was able to get the third out keeping Omaha off the board.

Jonathan Heasley had a bounce-back inning from the top of the third, retiring the Mud Hens in order.

In the bottom of the third inning, Johan Camargo singled to center field with one out. The next batter Nick Loftin doubled to right center field to score Camargo and cut the Mud Hens lead down to 6-2. Henderson retired the next two batters to limit the damage to just one run in the third inning.

With one out in the top of the fourth inning, Jonathan Davis roped a single to center field to get the Mud Hens going. Corey Joyce then hit a single to right field to put runners on the corners with one out. Heasley was able to escape the jam retiring the next two Mud Hen hitters without giving up a run.

Heath Hembree entered the game in the bottom of the fourth inning for the Mud Hens. Hembree walked one batter in the inning but retired the side without allowing a run.

James McArthur entered the game from the bullpen in the top of the fifth inning. McArthur walked one batter in the inning but recorded all three outs via the strikeout to end the top of the fifth inning.

Tyler Gentry hit a leadoff single to start the bottom of the fifth inning, but the Hembree retired the next three batters in a row to strand the baserunner and keep the Storm Chasers off the board.

Andrew Knapp leadoff the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run over the left field wall and extended the Mud Hens lead to 7-2. McArthur was able to get out of the inning by just giving up the solo home run.

Sam Clay entered the game from the bullpen in the bottom of the sixth inning for the Mud Hens. After striking out the first batter he faced, Clay allowed a one-out single to the Storm Chasers. However, Clay retired the next two batters and kept Omaha off the board.

To lead off the top of the seventh inning, Parker Meadows roped a double down the right field line to get things going for the Hens. After a groundball that allowed Meadows to get to second, Steele Walker recorded an RBI hitting a ground ball to the first basemen and a throwing error allowed the run to score and for Walker to reach second base. With two outs in the inning, Donny Sands hit a double to the center field wall to score Walker and give the Mud Hens a 9-2 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Storm Chasers were able to load up the bases with one out. Clay struck out the next batter then got the final out via a forceout and escape the jam without giving up a run.

Dylan Coleman entered the game in the top of the eighth inning. After recording the first two batters in order, Justyn-Henry Malloy worked a walk but Coleman was able to record the final out of the inning leaving Malloy at first.

Aneurys Zabala pitched the bottom of the eighth inning for the Mud Hens. After giving up a leadoff single, Zabala struck out the next three Storm Chasers in order to retire the side.

Ryan Weiss replaced Coleman on the mound for the top of the ninth inning. Tyler Nevin hit a leadoff single, then Steele Walker walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Weiss was able to get a big groundball double play, then retire the next Mud Hen batter to strand the runner at third.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Storm Chasers we're able to put runners on first and second, but Zabala was able to record the final out and secure the 9-2 victory in Omaha.

Notables:

Parker Meadows: 2-5, 2R, 3RBI, HR, 2B

Andre Lipcius: 2-5, R, 1RBI

Andrew Knapp: 2-4, 2R, 1RBI, HR

Jonathan Davis: 2-4, R, 1RBI