Fox and Melendez lead Chasers to series-opening win over I-Cubs
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Centerfielder Lucius Fox and catcher MJ Melendez each finished one hit shy of hitting for the cycle, combining to drive in four of the Omaha Storm Chasers 10 runs in a 10-5 win over the Iowa Cubs on Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park. With the win,
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Centerfielder Lucius Fox and catcher MJ Melendez each finished one hit shy of hitting for the cycle, combining to drive in four of the Omaha Storm Chasers 10 runs in a 10-5 win over the Iowa Cubs on Wednesday afternoon at Principal Park.
With the win, Omaha (70-56, 4-2) clinches the season series against Iowa (51-75, 1-5), posting a 21-16 record against the I-Cubs with four scheduled games remaining.
The Storm Chasers took their initial lead in the second inning, when Melendez tripled down the right-field line before scoring on an RBI triple from right fielder Erick Mejia. It was the second game this season with two triples for Omaha and the first since May 4 vs. St. Paul. Omaha extended its lead in the third inning when Fox doubled, stole second, and score on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Nick Pratto.
Left-hander Marcelo Martinez (Win, 5-7) held the I-Cubs to three hits across 5.1 innings, but yielded a game-tying, two-run homer to Jared Young in the third.
Omaha retook the lead for good in the fifth, scoring four runs on two hits, three walks, and an error. Following a leadoff double by second baseman Angelo Castellano, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Pratto, and third baseman Emmanuel Rivera drew three consecutive walks against left-hander Bryan Hudson (Loss, 0-1) to force in the first run of the inning. Witt Jr. scored on a missed catch error by second baseman Levi Jordan before Pratto and Rivera scored on a two-run double from Melendez.
Melendez finished the game 3-for-5 with a double, triple, and two RBIs. Melendez has 99 RBIs this season, second-most in Minor League Baseball.
Fox added a pair to the Chasers' tally in the sixth, lofting a two-run homer over the left-field fence. He finished the game 3-for-5 with a double, home run, and two RBIs, extending his hitting streak to a season-best eight games.
Iowa scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run homer from Tyler Ladendorf.
The Storm Chasers rounded out their scoring with a solo home run from left fielder Dairon Blanco in the top of the seventh, while the I-Cubs scored their final run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double from Brennan Davis.
Right-hander Jose Cuas made his Triple-A debut in the eighth, completing a scoreless inning thanks to a diving catch from Witt Jr. in shallow left field.
With two home runs on Wednesday, the Storm Chasers have hit 14 home runs during the Triple-A Final Stretch, amounting to a $700 donation from Minor League Baseball to B&B Sports Academy. Whichever Triple-A team finishes the Triple-A Final Stretch with the most home runs earns an additional $5000 donation to their selected charity.
The Storm Chasers continue their season-ending, five-game series against the Iowa Cubs at Principal Park in Des Moines on Thursday, when right-hander Brandon Barker (2-3, 8.05) faces Iowa right-hander Matt Swarmer (3-8, 5.22). First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 6:38 p.m. and coverage begins at 5:45 p.m. with the Sarpy County Tourism Pregame Show on 1180 The Zone.
Ticket packages for the 2022 season, as well as Chasers Blue Books and undated voucher packs, are available for purchase through the Werner Park Ticket Office. For more information, visit omahastormchasers.com or call the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100 and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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