Dodgers Top Chasers 10-8 In Season Finale
Oklahoma City third baseman Brandon Hicks homered twice, first baseman Cody Bellinger clubbed his third home run in a span of two games and second baseman Micah Johnson tallied four hits, while Omaha right fielder Jorge Bonifacio recorded a three-hit effort in the Dodgers' 10-8 regular season finale win over the Storm Chasers on Monday afternoon at Werner Park.
The two clubs were tied 4-4 heading into the sixth before Oklahoma City (81-60) plated a four-spot, led by Hicks' first homer, a three-run blast to left field, as well as an RBI double from SS Chris Taylor. Hicks would launched his second longball in the subsquent inning, a solo shot to left, to push the Dodgers ahead 9-5.
Bellinger (2-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI) and CF Corey Brown (2-5, R, HR, RBI) also contributed roundtrippers while recording multi-hit efforts. Johnson (4-5, 2 R, 2B) led all batters with his four base knocks, while Hicks (2-5, 2 R, 2 HR, 4 RBI) drove in a game-high four RBI.
The Storm Chasers traded a tally with the Dodgers in the initial inning before taking a 3-1 lead in the second when Torres slammed a two-run homer to left, his second of the year with Omaha (58-82). The club would mount a comeback attempt in the ninth trailing by four, with LF Dusty Coleman lifting an opposite field solo homer to right, immediately followed by 1B Balbino Fuenmayor's RBI double to center.
Bonifacio (3-5, R) led Omaha with his three knocks, while Torres (2-5, R, HR, 2 RBI) and Fuenmayor (2-4, 2B, RBI, BB), along with 2B Angel Franco (2-4, R, RBI) and DH Parker Morin (2-4, 2 RBI) also collected two hits each. In addition, all nine batters in the Storm Chasers' batting order tallied at least one base knock.
Dodgers reliever Gus Schlosser (3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 SO) earned the victory to improve to 1-1 on the year, while Omaha starter Jake Junis (5.0 IP, 11 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 SO) suffered the defeat. Chasers right-hander Kevin McCarthy (1.0 IP) tossed a scoreless outing in support of Junis, recording his 12th scoreless outing in a span of 13 appearances.
With the 2016 regular season completed, the Storm Chasers' next contest will be on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at Colorado Springs. Omaha's home opener at Werner Park is scheduled for Tuesday, April 11, 2017 versus the Round Rock Express.