Santana Homers RedHawks to 8-5 Win
Oklahoma City - Domingo Santana delivered a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning to break a tied game and send the Oklahoma City RedHawks to an 8-5 walk-off win against the Omaha Storm Chasers in front of a crowd of 9,719 Friday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Austin Wates led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gregorio Petit. Marc Krauss was intentionally walked before Santana stepped up to the plate next and sent a towering fly ball into the visitor's bullpen in right field.
The home run was Santana's 13th of the season and gave the RedHawks (43-39) their fifth walk-off win of 2014.
The victory also ended a season-high five-game losing skid for Oklahoma City.
The RedHawks overcame a three-run deficit earlier in the game and took a 5-4 lead with a four-run sixth inning. Omaha (43-37) then tied the game, 5-5, with a run in the top of the ninth inning.
Santana notched a game-high four hits for the second time this season. He also scored three runs and had a team-leading three RBI.
Omaha quickly built a 3-0 lead Friday.
With two outs in the first inning, three consecutive Omaha batters reached base before former RedHawk Jimmy Paredes came up to bat with the bases loaded. Paredes then hit a bases-clearing triple to give the Storm Chasers the early three-run edge.
Santana hit a lead-off single for the RedHawks in the bottom of the second inning. He advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts, then scored on a two-out RBI single by Matt Duffy to cut the Omaha lead to 3-1.
Omaha's Paulo Orlando drove home the fourth run of the night for the Storm Chasers on a fielder's choice play for a 4-1 Omaha advantage.
The RedHawks put together a comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning, recording six hits.
Petit led off the bottom of the frame with a single. Marc Krauss followed with his third homer of the season, a two-run shot to center field, to cut the Omaha lead to 4-3.
Preston Tucker notched a RBI as the RedHawks tied up the game, 4-4, on a fielder's choice play.
Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Wates connected on a RBI infield single to give the RedHawks their first lead of the night, 5-4.
The Oklahoma City lead remained until a RBI double by Omaha's Johnny Giavotella tied the game, 5-5, in the top of the ninth. Giavotella led Omaha with three hits.
The RedHawks outhit the Storm Chasers, 13-10. Wates and Duffy each had two hits for Oklahoma City.
RedHawks pitcher Jason Stoffel (1-2) was charged with a blown save and earned the win, allowing one run and one hit in the ninth inning. He also walked one and struck out one.
Omaha pitcher Spencer Patton (4-3) allowed two hits, three runs and walked one in the bottom of the ninth inning for the loss.
The RedHawks continue their series against Omaha with a 7:05 p.m. game Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Tickets are available through the box office on S. Mickey Mantle Drive, by calling (405) 218-1000, or ordering through okcredhawks.com. Live coverage begins at 6:35 p.m. on AM 1340 "The Game," 1340thegame.com, or through the free IHeartRadio mobile app.