The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

LUCIUS Fox Jr continued his offensive production for the Omaha Storm Chasers over their “Final Stretch” of the AAA season, while Tahnaj Thomas and his Greensboro Grasshoppers finished as runners-up in the High-A East League.

Fox finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in the Storm Chasers’ 10-5 win over the Iowa I-Cubs yesterday at Principal Park in Des Moines, Iowa.

The win gave Omaha improved to 70-56 overall with a 4-2 record of the league’s 10-game “Final Stretch” and clinched the season series over the I-Cubs with four games remaining in the season.

Fox finished the game 3-5 with a double, home run, and two RBIs, extending his hitting streak to a season-best eight games.

He hit a two-run home over the left-field fence in the sixth inning for his third of the season. His day began with a double in the third inning. He eventually stole third, his 19th stolen base of the year, and was eventually plated on a sacrifice fly.

Fox has produced five multi-hit games over the course of his current eight game hit streak and has hit two home runs.

Defensively, he has shifted between shortstop and centerfield.

Omaha finished the regular season 12 games over .500 and has clinched the franchise’s first winning season since 2015.

According to the MiLB “a 2021 regular season champion will be crowned in both the AAA East and the AAA West based on highest overall winning percentage through the originally scheduled championship season.

Additionally, among all 30 clubs, a single 2021 AAA Final Stretch Winner will be crowned across both leagues based on highest overall winning percentage during a 10-game schedule immediately following the originally scheduled championship season.”

On the season with the Storm Chasers, Fox - the 24-year No.26 prospect in the Kansas City Royals pipeline - is hitting .241 with a .346 OBP, .705 OPS, 53 hits, four home-runs, 23 RBI, 39 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.

Last season, Fox was traded for the second time in his career when the Tampa Bay Rays sent him to the Royals in exchange for outfielder Brett Phillips.

Thomas concluded this season on the inactive list as his Grasshoppers fell in the best-of-five championship series to the Bowling Green Hot Rods.