Decker, Cuthbert Lead Chasers to 11-8 Slugfest Victory
April 9, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
Omaha Storm Chasers 1B Cody Decker Launches a Homer
(Omaha Storm Chasers, Credit: Minda Haas Kuhlmann)
OMAHA - Omaha first baseman Cody Decker drilled two massive home runs in his first start as a Storm Chaser, while third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert clocked four hits and right fielder Jarrod Dyson reached base twice and scored two runs in a high-octane 11-8 victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Saturday afternoon at Werner Park.
The win was the second consecutive victory for Omaha as they improved to 2-1 on the year. The Zephyrs dropped to their early 2016 record to 1-2 with the defeat.
The contest also marked the return of former Storm Chasers outfielder Jarrod Dyson, who joined Omaha earlier in the day to begin a Major League Rehab Assignment as he recovers from a strained oblique. The 31-year-old flashed his trademark speed in his five innings of play, slapping a single to center, along with a walk, while also coming across on one of his two runs all the way from first.
For the third straight game to begin the 2016 campaign, the Omaha and New Orleans batting orders traded multiple runs in the initial frame. After the Zephyrs opened the scoring with two tallies in the top half, the Storm Chasers order went to work. Dyson led off with a base on balls and then circled the bases to score on 2B Whit Merrifield's two-bagger to the right-center field gap. After swiping third, Merrifield would eventually come across via Cuthbert's first of four base knocks, a stinging ground ball that just snuck inside the third base line to even the game at 2-2.
New Orleans would snag the advantage back in the next half inning, though that lead would turn out to be quite short-lived. Omaha roared back in the bottom of the second with four scores, starting with Decker's first of two longballs, a titanic blast that landed on the Storm Chasers' clubhouse roof. SS Dusty Coleman doubled and preceeded to be brought plateward courtesy of Dyson's run-scoring base knock to center before the frame was capped again by Cuthbert, who blooped a single into center field to bring across two more runs and give Omaha a lead they would not relinquish.
The Zephyrs once again plated a single run to start the third, only to have that total matched and then exceeded by the Storm Chasers' three-spot. C Parker Morin led off with a walk and then took second when Decker cranked a ground-rule double to center field before both were able to come home on Coleman's three-run longball to the left field Home Run Porch to move Omaha ahead 9-4.
Decker was far from finished, however, putting an exclamation mark on the Storm Chasers' run total by clobbering a 1-2 offering into the McDonald's Berm in left-center field, give the 29-year-old a multi-homer game, and Omaha an 11-5 lead. It was Decker's first two-homer effort since crushing two roundtrippers on May 24, 2015, ironically coming against New Orleans on the road. The right-handed slugger was also the first Storm Chasers batter to smack two or more big flies in a game since Francisco Pena on June 16, 2015 versus the Iowa Cubs.
The Zephyrs would make things interesting in the ninth, however, scoring three runs in the final frame and putting the would-be tying run on deck. Storm Chasers reliever Peter Moylan (0.1 IP, SO), however, came on with two outs in the ninth and shut the door, notching the Australia native his first save of 2016.
Omaha southpaw reliever Brian Flynn (3.0 IP, 2 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) earned the win with three solid innings of one-run ball, yielding just two hits in his first game since suffering a season-ending injury in his first 2015 outing with Omaha. Storm Chasers starter Luke Farrell (4.0 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) did not factor in the decision in his Triple-A and Omaha debut, while New Orleans starter and 2015 Storm Chasers hurler Paul Clemens (1.2 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO) suffered the defeat.
Cuthbert (4-5, 2B, 3 RBI) led both sides with his four hits on the afternoon, continuing his hot start to 2016 having collected a hit in seven of his 11 at bats, while also driving in seven RBI through his first three games. Decker (3-3, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, BB) tallied three hits and reached all four times he came to the plate, while Coleman (2-4, 2 R, 2B, HR, 3 RBI) added a two-hit effort. Zephyrs 1B Dan Black (3-5, R, HR, 3 RBI) and 3B Don Kelly (2-3, 2 R, 2 BB) each posted multi-hit games, and DH Xavier Scruggs (1-2, 4 R, 3 BB) scored four times thanks to three free passes.
Omaha and New Orleans will concluded their four-game set with another matinee on Sunday at Werner Park, with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m. LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (NR) is expected to get the nod for the Storm Chasers, while the Zephyrs are anticipated to turn to RHP Kendry Flores (NR) in the series finale.
The first 1,000 fans through the gates of Werner Park on Sunday will receive the first of five 5th Anniversary Season Posters that will be given away throughout the 2016 campaign to honor the Storm Chasers' first five years at Werner Park leading up to this season. It is also the first U.S. Bank Family FUNday of 2016, which will feature clowns, balloon artists, face painting, and live animals from the Wildlife Encounter. Kids ages 12 and under will also be able to run the bases after the contest with the Hardess Post-Game Kids Run The Bases. Gates will open at 1:00 p.m.
Tickets for that contest and all remaining Storm Chasers games are still available and can be purchased online at www.omahastormchasers.com/tickets, or by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100.
Images from this story
 Omaha Storm Chasers 1B Cody Decker Launches a Homer (Minda Haas Kuhlmann) |
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