INDIANAPOLIS – The Omaha Storm Chasers (31-33/64-74) shut out the Indianapolis Indians (37-29/68-73) on Thursday, 8-0. Omaha starter John Means and relievers Hunter Patteson (1-1), Connor Seabold and Scott Alexander combined for 9.0 scoreless innings as part of the team’s 5th shutout victory of the year.
The game began following a 1-hour, 6-minute rain delay, and after a scoreless 1st inning, Omaha got on the board first, plating 3 runs in the top of the 2nd inning to take a 3-0 lead. The Storm Chasers’ first run came on a sacrifice fly from Luca Tresh, then Alejo Lopez drove in a run with a single and Maikel Garcia capped off the scoring with an RBI double.
Means came back with a perfect bottom of the 2nd inning, then Tresh added another run with an RBI single in the top of the 3rd inning to make it 4-0. The Indians were held off the board in the bottom of the 3rd inning and Javier Vaz scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 4th inning to extend to the lead to 5-0.
Means followed with a 3-up, 3-down bottom of the 4th inning, finishing his night with 4.0 scoreless innings while striking out 4 batters. The Storm Chasers turned to Patteson for the bottom of the 5th inning, and he worked out of a bases-loaded jam to keep Indianapolis without a run.
Omaha plated two more runs in the top of the 6th inning on a two-run fielding error, and Patteson subsequently twirled a 1-2-3 bottom half to keep the game 7-0.
Colton Becker hit an RBI single in the top of the 7th inning to bring the Storm Chasers’ lead to 8-0, and Patteson worked a third scoreless frame in the bottom of the 7th inning. Patteson finished the night with 3.0 innings of relief, striking out a pair without allowing a run.
Omaha called on Major League rehabber Connor Seabold for the bottom of the 8th inning, and he pitched a clean inning before Scott Alexander did the same in the bottom of the 9th inning to finish the 8-0 win.
The Storm Chasers will return to Victory Field to take on the Indians for the fourth game of the series on Friday night. First pitch is set for 5:35 P.M. CT and Vince Velasquez is scheduled to start for Omaha.