Storm Chasers Walk off with 6-5 Win over Zephyrs
April 9, 2016 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release
OMAHA - Third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert crushed his first homer of the season, while Omaha native Brian Duensing pitched two perfect frames in his Storm Chasers debut and catcher Tony Cruz drew a game-ending bases-loaded walk to give Omaha a 6-5 walk-off victory over the New Orleans Zephyrs on Friday evening at Werner Park.
The Storm Chasers' win evened both teams' records to 1-1 on the young season. The triumph was also Omaha's first walk-off win since August 28, 2015, when then 1B Casey Kotchman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in a 3-2 victory over the Fresno Grizzlies.
After trailing by three entering the eighth, the Zephyrs worked their way back to tie the contest at 5-5. Following 2B Robert Andino's run-scoring infield single in the eighth, New Orleans plated two more tallies in the ninth. SS Austin Nola lifted a sacrifice fly to right to cut the deficit to 5-4, before CF Isaac Galloway bounced an RBI base knock to right to plate the tying run.
The two teams also traded blows in the opening frame for the second consecutive night, combining for five runs on Friday after totaling six the previous evening. After the Zephyrs plated two scores in the top of the first, the Storm Chasers countered right back with a trio of runs of their own. Cuthbert brought in the first score with a sacrifice fly to left, the first of his three runs driven in on the night, with RF Jorge Bonifacio following by shooting a two-out two-run single up the middle to give Omaha their first lead of 2016.
Cuthbert would add to the Storm Chasers advantage with his two-run shot in the seventh. The third baseman swarmed the first pitch of the at bat, cutting through the teeth of a strong headwind and depositing Omaha's first home run of the year into the left field Home Run Porch.
Bonifacio (3-5, 2 RBI) paced the Storm Chasers' offense with three hits, while CF Brett Eibner (2-5, 2 R, 2B)and 2B Whit Merrifield (2-4, R, BB) each collected two base knocks apiece. New Orleans C Tomas Telis (3-3, 2 R, BB) recorded three hits and reached base four times, with Andino (2-5, RBI) joining him as the only two Zephyrs hitters to record multi-hit efforts.
Omaha reliever Malcom Culver (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, SO) earned his first Triple-A victory despite a blown save, while southpaw relievers Brian Duensing (2.0 IP, 2 SO) and Scott Alexander (1.0 IP, 3 H, R, ER, BB) each notched their first holds. Duensing, an Omaha native and Millard grad, tossed two perfect frames in his Storm Chasers debut. Zephyrs reliever Scott McGough (1.1 IP, 2 H, R, ER, BB) suffered the defeat, while Storm Chasers starter John Lannan (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO) did not receive a decision.
With the series drawn even at one game apiece, the two teams are scheduled for square off in the third game of their four-game set with a Saturday matinee at Werner Park. The first 1,500 fans will receive a Storm Chasers Magnet Schedule so they will be able to keep up with the team throughout the entire season. That afternoon will also feature a pre-game and several in-game performances from the fan favorite Omaha Street Percussion as part of the first Saturday Spectacular of 2016. First pitch is slated for 2:05 p.m.
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