Chasers' Cruz Crushes Colorado Springs 9-4
Published on April 25, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA - Storm Chasers catcher Tony Cruz crushed two home runs and drove in five RBI to help lead Omaha to their fourth consecutive victory in a 9-4 win over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on Monday evening at Werner Park.
Coming into the last of the sixth trailing by two, the Storm Chasers (13-6) rallied back with a five-run frame to take a lead they would not relinquish. After back-to-back singles from CF Brett Eibner and DH Travis Snider, Cruz lifted a 1-2 offering over the McDonald's berm and onto the concourse for his first roundtripper of the evening to put Omaha ahead 5-4. Run-scoring base knocks later on in the sixth from RF Jorge Bonifacio and 1B Cheslor Cuthbert advanced the margin to three.
Cruz would get his second longball of the evening in the subsequent inning. Following Snider's one-out walk, Cruz cracked the 3-1 pitch to the McDonald's Berm in left-center to cap the Storm Chasers' scoring at 9-4. The multi-homer effort was the first in Cruz's professional career.
Colorado Springs also displayed firepower with a pair of their own big flies. LF Keon Broxton blasted a two-run shot in the fifth, his second homer in as many games, to move the Sky Sox up 3-2. 1B Andy Wilkins followed in the sixth with a solo shot to right to extend Colorado Springs' margin to two. Incidentally the game's scoring also began with a longball thanks to Cuthbert's blast in the opening frame, his team-leading fourth of 2016.
Cruz (2-4, 2 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI) and Cuthbert (2-3, R, 2 RBI, 2 BB) were among five Storm Chasers batters to collect two hits in the game, along with Snider, 2B Whit Merrifield (2-5) and SS Clint Barmes (2-4, R, 2 2B). 2B Jake Elmore (3-5, R, 2B) was the only Sky Sox hitter to record a multi-hit effort, posting a game-high three hits. Snider with his two hits has now reached base via a hit or walk in all 13 games played this season, including hits in all but two of those contests.
Omaha starter Jonathan Dziedzic (5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the final decision, with reliever Clay Mortensen (2.0 IP, H, R, ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) earning his first victory of the year. Southpaw Brian Duensing (2.0 IP, H, 2 SO) closed the contest out with two shutout frames, while Sky Sox starter Junior Guerra (5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 BB, 4 SO) suffered the defeat to fall to 0-2.
The Storm Chasers will go for the series sweep against Colorado Springs on Tuesday evening, with the series finale scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch. RHP Brooks Pounders (2-0, 1.50) is set to take the hill for Omaha, while the Sky Sox are expected to send LHP Brent Suter (0-2, 7.80) to the bump.
Pacific Coast League Stories from April 25, 2016
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