Outfielders Aaron Cunningham and Will Venable ignite offensive outbursts in week eight.

The Tucson Padres continued their road trip, facing the Omaha Storm Chasers on Monday. Game one of the four game set was a pitchers duel between Tucson starting pitcher Jeremy Hefner and Omaha SP Kevin Pucetas. SP Hefner pitched six innings allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out six. Pucetas was credited with the win lasting seven innings and allowing only one run.

The T-Pads out hit Omaha nine to six; designated hitter Alex Cintron and right fielder Cunningham both had two-hit nights. Shortstop Logan Forsythe had the only T-Pads run batted in as Tucson lost two to one.

Pacific Coast League strikeout leader Will Inman took the mound for the T-Pads Tuesday. SP Inman pitched well adding four strikeouts to his total while allowing one earned run in five innings.

Tucson left fielder Cedric Hunter and second baseman Robbie Hudson both had two RBI on the night. T-Pads relief pitcher Evan Scribner took the loss, allowing the winning run in the bottom of the eleventh inning. The T-Pads lost their thirteenth one-run game of the season five to six.

Wednesday’s game with Omaha was postponed due to rain which forced the two teams to play a pair of seven-inning games on Thursday.

In the first game of the double header the T-Pads got back on the winning track, thanks in large-part to SP Jon Leicester. SP Leicester pitched six innings of two-hit baseball, allowing one run and striking out three. With Thursday’s victory SP Leicester is now 3-0 on the season with a 3.45 earned run average.

The T-Pads scored all three runs in the second inning which was highlighted by SS Andy Parrino’s two RBI double. RP Scribner was given his fourth save of the season when he pitched a scoreless seventh inning. The T-Pads won the seven-inning game three to one.

In the final game of the road trip the T-Pads sent Aaron Poreda to the mound to face veteran pitcher Jeff Suppan. SP Poreda had a tough start as the Storm Chasers scored three runs in the first and second innings. Suppan pitched a complete game and received the victory.

T-Pad’s third baseman Jarrett Hoffpauir had one of the few offensive highlights for Tucson with a solo homerun. The T-Pads split the double header, losing game two, three to eight.

The T-Pads won one of four games with the Kansas City Royals triple-A affiliate and went two and six on the road trip.

Friday the T-Pads were back at home starting a four game series with Salt Lake City Bees. Tucson’s bats exploded in game one as four homeruns were hit by three different T-Pads, including first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s fifteenth homerun of the season. 3B Jesus Guzman had a homerun and two RBI; Tucson’s most valuable offensive player was RF Venable who had two homeruns and four RBI.

If RF Venable was the offensive player of the game than SP Matt Buschmann was the defensive player of the game, pitching nine innings while allowing one run. With the 11 to one T-Pads victory SP Buschmann became the first T-Pads pitcher to throw a complete game this season.

The tables were turned on Saturday as SP Wade LeBlanc had a forgettable start. SP LeBlanc allowed nine earned runs in less than five innings. The bullpen pitched well for Tucson allowing zero earned runs in four and two thirds innings.

SS Parrino had three hits and a RBI, and 2B Hoffpauir had two hits and a RBI. Those were the only two runs that the T-Pads scored losing two to 10.

The week ended with offensive fireworks from the T-Pads as DH Cunningham was a single short of hitting for the cycle. DH Cunningham had five RBI in one inning with a bases clearing double and a two-run triple in the third inning. His solo homerun in the fifth inning gave him six RBI in the game.

Most of the T-Pads runs were scored on opposing SP Scott Kazmir, who was on a rehab assignment with the Los Angeles Angels triple-A affiliate. Kazmir did not get out of the third inning as the T-Pads had their biggest inning of the year. The T-Pads scored 12 runs in the inning sending 16 batters to the plate.

SP Hefner was the beneficiary of the offensive outburst getting his fist win of the season. SP Hefner turned in his second solid start of the week, throwing into the seventh inning allowing three runs. Tucson guaranteed at least a split with the Salt Lake City Bees, winning game three, 13 to four.

Tucson won three of their seven games in week eight. Their season record is 22-29 leaving them 10 games back of first place Sacramento.

Roster transactions:

     +RF Will Venable has been assigned to the Tucson Padres.

-INF Logan Forsythe has been transferred from the Tucson Padres to the San Diego Padres.

Rizzo watch: Anthony Rizzo is still in the top three in all of the PCL triple-crown batting statistics. 1B Rizzo is second in the PCL in homeruns with 15, third in average at .372 and first in RBI with 60.

Next home game: Monday May 30, vs. Salt Lake City Bees

Next road game: Tuesday May 31, at Las Vegas 51’s