Kansas City Royals infielder Lucas Duda and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio combined for four hits and five runs driven in, while Omaha relievers Richard Lovelady and Jason Adam joined forces for three shutout innings in support of starter Glenn Sparkman in the Golden Spikes' 6-3 victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers
Kansas City Royals infielder Lucas Duda and outfielder Jorge Bonifacio combined for four hits and five runs driven in, while Omaha relievers Richard Lovelady and Jason Adam joined forces for three shutout innings in support of starter Glenn Sparkman in the Golden Spikes' 6-3 victory over the Oklahoma City Dodgers in front of 6,639 fans on Friday evening at Werner Park. Storm Chasers players and coaches wore special Omaha Golden Spikes uniforms as part of the organization's Flashback Weekend to salute the 1999-2001 period in franchise history.
Entering the last of the seventh trailing 3-2, Golden Spikes center fielder Donnie Dewees drove a double to the left field wall to tie the contest. Bonifacio followed by crushing a two-run double to center before Duda capped the four-run spurt via an RBI single to center. Duda also started Omaha's scoring, blasting his two-run shot to right in the opening inning. The Dodgers plated a single tally in the fourth prior to 1B Cotton Joe's two-run longball gave Oklahoma City the 3-2 advantage one frame later.
Bonifacio (2-3, 2 R, 2B, 2 RBI, BB) and Duda (2-3, R, HR, 3 RBI, BB) were the only two Golden Spikes batters to record multi-hit efforts. Joe (2-3, R, HR, 2 RBI), 3B Edwin Ríos (2-3, 2B, RBI, BB) and C Alex Burg (2-4, R, 2B) all tallied two knocks for the Dodgers. Duda has smashed two home runs in four contests with Omaha as part of his Major League Rehab Assignment, while Bonifacio has posted at least one hit in eight of his nine bouts with the Golden Spikes.
Lovelady (2.2 IP, H, 2 K) was excellent in his two-plus innings of work to earn his third triumph, retiring five of six batters faced, with Adam (0.1 IP) recording the final out on one pitch. Sparkman (6.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 5 K) did not factor in the final decisions despite a quality outing, while Dodgers reliever Drew Hutchison (3.0 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB) suffered the defeat.
With the series even at 1-1, Omaha and Oklahoma City will face off again on Saturday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm CT. The Golden Spikes are anticipated to send LHP Jonathan Dziedzic (3-6, 3.88) to the hill, with the Dodgers expected to give the nod to RHP Daniel Corcino (2-0, 1.98).
Tickets are still available for that game and all remaining Storm Chasers home dates in 2018, and may be purchased at www.omahastormchasers.com/tickets as well as by calling the Werner Park Ticket Office at (402) 738-5100. To view Ticket Office hours, please click here.
