Falu Edges Closer to Record as Chasers Win 13-7

OKLAHOMA CITY - Irving Falu collected 2 more hits and moved within 3 knocks of Omaha's career franchise record, as the Chasers slugged the Dodgers 13-7 on Thursday night at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

The win was Omaha's 4^th in a row, and their 6^th in their last 8 games.

Omaha jumped out to a lead in the top of the 2nd against OKC starter Jharel Cotton. Hunter Dozier extended his hitting streak to 9 games with a leadoff single, Travis Snider walked, and Bubba Starling singled to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Dozier, and Irving Falu lifted a sacrifice fly to center, bringing Snider home for a 2-0 lead.

After striking out 6 batters in the first 2 innings, Chasers spot-starter Benino Pruneda ran into trouble in the 3^rd. With 1 out, Micah Johnson singled, Austin Barnes tripled, Andrew Toles doubled, Rob Segedin singled, Corey Brown tripled, and Charlie Culberson recorded an RBI groundout, as the Dodgers enjoyed a 5-run frame and a 5-2 advantage.

Pruneda was lifted after the 3^rd inning, having yielded 5 runs on 5 hits. He struck out 7 and walked 2.

Balbino Fuenmayor pulled the Chasers back within a run in the 4^th. After Travis Snider singled and Bubba Starling walked, Fuenmayor laced a 2-out, 2-run single to left field, making it 5-4.

Yender Caramo (W, 1-0) came on in relief for Omaha, and was excellent in his Triple-A debut, throwing 3 scoreless innings before yielding a 2-out run in the 7^th. He struck out 2 and walked none in 3.2 total frames.

The Chasers surged in front with a 6-run top of the 6^th against OKC reliever Layne Somsen (L, 0-1). It began with a walk to Hunter Dozier, and Travis Snider singled him to 2^nd. With 1 out, Irving Falu doubled, scoring Dozier and tying the game and putting men at 2^nd and 3^rd. Balbino Fuenmayor then hit a grounder to 2^nd, and Micah Johnson's throw to the plate was errant, allowing Snider to score. Parker Morin singled home Falu, making it 7-5, and Orlando Calixte pushed an RBI safety squeeze bunt, which was thrown away by Somsen to advance runners further. Ramon Torres followed with a 2-run single, giving Omaha a half-dozen runs in the inning, and putting them ahead 10-5.

Irving Falu extended the lead in the 7^th, crashing a 2-run homer for his 659^th career hit with the Storm Chasers. Falu is now just 3 hits shy of tying Jed Hansen's all-time franchise record of 662.

Andrew Toles' RBI hit in the 7^th ended Omaha's string of 10 unanswered runs, and made it a 12-6 game. The Dodgers scored another in the 8^th on a sacrifice fly, but Joe Beimel worked out of further trouble to strand a pair of runners and keep Omaha ahead 12-7.

Jorge Bonifacio tacked on another tally for the Chasers in the 9^th, singling home Orlando Calixte.

Clay Mortensen finished the game for the Chasers, throwing a scoreless bottom of the 9^th inning.

The Chasers continue the series in Oklahoma City tomorrow. LHP Jon Dziedzic (3-6, 4.59) faces RHP Carlos Frias (3-3, 4.46). First pitch will be at 7:05.