Melendez Homers Twice in Series Opening Loss to Toledo
IL Omaha Storm Chasers

Melendez Homers Twice in Series Opening Loss to Toledo

Published on July 8, 2025 under International League (IL)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


PAPILLON, NEB. - Despite 4 home runs, the Omaha Storm Chasers fell 12-8 in their series opener against the Toledo Mud Hens Tuesday afternoon.

Left-hander Rich Hill started Tuesday afternoon's game for the Storm Chasers and Toledo took an early 7-0 advantage with three 2-run home runs in the first two innings and a walked-in run.

Hill threw scoreless 3rd and 4th frames, finishing his outing with 7 runs allowed on 10 hits over 4 innings, on a season-high 101 pitches. Brandon Johnson relieved Hill in the 5th, but the Mud Hens extended their lead to 9-0 on another 2-run home run.

After 4.0 innings of scoreless, no-hit baseball from Toledo, Carter Jensen put Omaha on the board to open the bottom of the 5th with a solo home run for a 9-1 score.

In the top of the 6th inning, Chazz Martinez followed Johnson to make his Triple-A debut. The lefty struck out 2, but allowed a run on a sacrifice fly, extending Toledo's lead to 10-1.

In the bottom of the 6th, Omaha added another run on an MJ Melendez solo home run that made the score 10-2 in favor of Toledo.

In the 7th inning, Omaha shrunk the deficit to 10-8 with a 6-run frame. Peyton Wilson opened the inning with the first home run of his Triple-A career, then Diego Castillo followed with a walk and Melendez added his second home run of the game, a 2-run homer that travelled 445 feet, the 2nd-furthest by a Storm Chaser this year. Cavan Biggio, Joey Wiemer, and Luca Tresh all drew walks, and a 2 RBI single from Jensen scored both Biggio and Wiemer. Harold Castro grounded into a fielder's choice that plated Tresh, totaling a 6-run frame on just 3 hits.

Michael Fulmer relieved Martinez in the 8th and Toledo stretched its lead to 12-8 on a passed ball and RBI groundout. In the 9th, Andrew Hoffmann followed Fulmer and worked a 1-2-3 inning with a pair of strikeouts; however, Omaha did not plate any more runs in the bottom half of the frame and the 12-8 score was finalized.

Omaha returns to action on Wednesday against the Toledo Mud Hens, with first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. CT at Werner Park. Right-hander Chandler Champlain is scheduled to pitch.

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International League Stories from July 8, 2025


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