Pinto pitches Hens to victory

Toledo Mud Hens
PAPILLION, Nebraska – The Toledo Mud Hens blanked the Omaha Storm Chasers on Wednesday night at Werner Park by a score of 2-0.

Right-hander Ricardo Pinto started on the mound for the Hens for the fifth time this season. He carried a solid 3-1 record into tonight, including wins in his last two starts.

Pinto walked the first hitter he faced, which usually is never a good sign, but he stranded the runner at third base to keep Omaha off the board. As the game headed into the bottom of the fourth inning, the score remained 0-0. The Storm Chasers finally notched their first hit of the game, a two-out single to left field. A walk followed by another hit to left looked like it was going to get Omaha on the board, but JaCoby Jones gunned down Ryan McBroom at the plate.

On the first pitch of the fifth inning, Yariel Gonzalez smoked a ball down the left field line that stayed fair for a solo home run to put the Hens in front.

In the top of the seventh, the Mud Hens added their second run of the night. JaCoby Jones smacked a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right-center field and up onto the lawn area at Werner Park to extend the Toledo lead to 2-0.

In the bottom half of the seventh, the Storm Chasers put two on with two out bringing the potential go-ahead run to the plate. Pinto was up to the task though, working ahead of Anderson Miller before fanning him on a breaking ball to escape the threat.

Pinto exited after seven tremendous innings, holding the Storm Chasers to four hits and no runs while walking two and striking out six. He lowered his earned run average to 1.93 for the season and was in line to earn a win in his third consecutive start. Righty Angel De Jesus relieved him in the eighth and sent down Omaha in order.

Three outs away from a shutout victory, De Jesus stayed out there looking to record a six-out save. Similarly to the eighth, he sent down the Chasers’ batters in order, striking out the final two to end the game and complete the shutout.

What’s Next:

The Toledo Mud Hens and Omaha Storm Chasers meet Thursday night for game three of the series at Werner Park with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 p.m. EST.

Hens Notes:

  • OF JaCoby Jones has now homered in two of the last three games, with both going to the opposite field.
  • 6 of Yariel Gonzalez’s 11 home runs on the season have been hit on the road.
  • Angel De Jesus recorded his second save of the season, tying him for the team lead among active Hens (LHP Ian Krol has four).
  • Tonight was the fourth shutout win of the season for Toledo.

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