CalL1 Lake Elsinore Storm

LE Storm Set Franchise Record with 7 Home Runs

Published on April 21, 2016 under California League (CalL1)
Lake Elsinore Storm News Release


LAKE ELSINORE - The Lake Elsinore Storm brought an abrupt end to the offensive drought that had chronically plagued them for over a week, as The Eyes unleashed a 17-run, 16-hit barrage on the San Jose Giants Wednesday night at The Diamond. Lake Elsinore's seven home runs in the game set a new franchise high.

A four-run second began the scoring for the Storm. Jose Ruiz doubled with one out, moving to third on a ground out in the next at-bat. After Chase Jensen walked, River Stevens walloped the first dinger of the night, a three-run shot to right field for the lead. Not to be outdone, Franchy Cordero followed with his first homer of the season to put Lake Elsinore up 4-0.

Josh VanMeter and Edwin Moreno joined in on the action in the third. Each hit a solo home run to give the Storm a 6-0 advantage.

San Jose managed single runs in the fourth and fifth, but Lake Elsinore added another score on a fifth inning RBI single by VanMeter that made it 7-2.

Despite the lead, the Storm would plate ten runs over their three final times at bat. Jensen singled to start the sixth and advanced to third on Cordero's base hit. Luis Urias brought Jensen home with a sacrifice fly, which gave Javier Guerra a chance to bat with a man on and two outs. The 20-year old shortstop uncorked his second home run of the season with a deep drive to center, scoring two and pushing The Eyes into double digits for the first time in 2016.

The scoring continued in the seventh. Three walks loaded the bases, which set up an RBI groundout for Stevens. With runners on the corners and two outs, Cordero laced a line drive to left that got by the defender and rolled all the way to the wall. He'd complete the circuit just ahead of the throw, recording his second home run of the night and the second Storm inside-the-park homer in as many games.

Up 14-3 after seven, Lake Elsinore added another three runs on a two-out home run by Moreno, his second of the game.

While the offense stole the show, the pitching staff continued to light up the scoreboard with zeroes. Starter Martires Arias struggled with control at times - he walked four batters over 4.2 innings - but was able to get outs when he needed to. Brad Wieck (W, 2-0) worked 2.1 innings and Colby Blueberg threw smoke for the final two frames, striking out the side in the ninth to solidify a 17-3 Lake Elsinore win.

NOTABLES

- Franchise high for home runs in a game.

- First time in franchise history with inside-the-park home runs in back-to-back games.

- Three players (Cordero, Moreno and Stevens) drove in four runs.

- Two players (Cordero and Moreno) had two home runs.

- Cordero and Guerra scored three times apiece.

- All nine starters had a hit.

With the win, the Storm (8-6) take the series from the Giants (5-6) two games to one.

Lake Elsinore hits the road tomorrow for their first visit to a North Division foe, as The Eyes send big leaguer Christian Friedrich to the mound in Bakersfield. Eddie Campbell (1-0, 3.12 ER) will go for the Blaze. First pitch is slated for 7:15pm.

Check out the Lake Elsinore Storm Statistics

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California League Stories from April 21, 2016


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