Storm Chasers Topple Redbirds in 7-1 Series-Winning Victory
Published on May 14, 2016 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA - Storm Chasers right fielder Jorge Bonifacio drove in his Pacific Coast League leading 29th and 30th RBI, while right-hander Miguel Almonte tied a season-high by striking out eight as Omaha took advantage of three Redbirds errors to topple Memphis 7-1 in front of a crowd of 7,012 fans on Friday night at Werner Park.
Almonte (5.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 8 SO) earned his second victory of the season with his eight punchouts, yielding a lone earned run on three hits over his five frames. Southpaw relievers David Huff (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) and Brian Duensing (2.0 IP, BB, 2 SO) joined forces for the final four shutout frames, with Huff receiving his first hold.
Memphis (13-19) starter Jeremy Hefner (4.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO) suffered the defeat to drop to 2-1. Relief man Ryan Church (2.0 IP, 2 SO) tossed the final two perfect frames in support of Hefner after Ryan Sherriff (1.1 IP, H, 5 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, SO) allowed five unearned runs over 1.1 frames.
DH Travis Snider's run-scoring base knock up the middle put Omaha (20-14) ahead 1-0 before Memphis answered back with a single tally to knot the game at 1-1. Bonifacio would then drive in his first run of the evening in the fifth by lifting an RBI triple to right-center, his team-leading third three-bagger of the season, to put the Storm Chasers up 2-1.
One inning later, Omaha would pull away thanks in part to three Memphis errors. After Snider scored on a throwing error, Bonifacio drew a bases-loaded walk for his second RBI of the evening to make it a 4-1 contest. With the bases still full, 1B Jose Martinez lifted a fly ball to right field that was dropped, allowing all three runners to score and cap the five-run frame.
Bonifacio now ranks at the top of the Pacific Coast League in both runs scored and RBI, having accumulated 30 of each. He had entered the evening tied for first with Cheslor Cuthbert, who was promoted to the Kansas City Royals on May 7. In his 33 games with the Storm Chasers this season, Bonifacio has hit .333 (42-126) with 30 runs, eight doubles, three triples, six homers and 30 RBI.
After concluding their eight-game homestand with a 4-4 record, including a 3-1 series win over the Redbirds, the Storm Chasers will now hit road the road for an eight-game road trip starting Saturday evening in against the Tacoma Rainiers. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT at Cheney Stadium. Omaha is slated to give the nod to LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (1-3, 4.45), while Memphis is expected to send RHP Joe Wieland (2-3, 10.58) to the hill for the lid lifter.
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