Pena launches three homers for Omaha

Francisco Pena had a feeling he would homer Tuesday. Those last two, though, were completely unexpected.

The Royals catching prospect teed off on three long balls and then ended up scoring the game-winning run as Triple-A Omaha defeated Iowa, 6-4.

Pena's first shot came with one out in the second inning, a solo blast that gave the Storm Chasers a 1-0 lead. Two frames later, the 25-year-old launched a two-run homer and then capped his career night with a solo shot in the seventh.

"I felt great," he said. "I think you could ask that question to anybody that hit three homers, everybody is going to say they feel unbelievably great. The only thing I feel I did different today was that I wasn't swinging at the pitcher's pitch. To be honest with you, I was talking to Moises Sierra and I said I have a feeling I'm going to hit a homer today. I never thought I was going to hit three homers. It's one of those days, it's your day."

In Pena's last at-bat in the ninth, the Dominican Republic native walked ahead of Casey Kotchman's walk-off homer.

"I was just trying to get on base for one of our best hitters," Pena said. "He knows what's doing, he's a veteran and he's a great player. He's a great guy to have on your team."

Pena's outburst was the first three-homer game for Omaha since Mike Moustakas turned the hat trick on an 11-RBI night on Aug. 30, 2010. It was the fourth trifecta this season and the first in the Pacific Coast League.

"It felt great," Pena said of his historic feat. "It's truly an honor to be in that book right there. It's truly an honor representing the Royals and the Storm Chasers."

Overall, the 6-foot-2 backstop is batting .276 with eight long balls and 22 RBIs in 42 games for the Storm Chasers. A year after launching 27 homers and earning Pacific Coast League All-Star honors, Pena is prepped for a shot in the Major Leagues.

"I feel like I'm ready and I just need that opportunity and it's out of my control," said Pena, son of former Major Leaguer Tony. "I'm doing my best, playing every day. Whenever they are ready to make that call, I'll be ready to go. You gotta do what you gotta do. Every person's opportunity will come and I truly believe in God that I'll get that opportunity."

Brian Broderick improved to 4-3 after tossing a perfect inning of relief for the Storm Chasers.

Matt Szczur went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and John Andreoli added three hits and scored once for the Cubs.

Blake Cooper gave up two runs on one hit while recording two outs in the final frame to fall to 4-2 for Iowa.