Storm Cruise Past Giants, 8-1
July 22, 2018 - California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
LAKE ELSINORE, CA - Lake Elsinore's Michel Baez tossed seven strong innings with just one run allowed and nine strikeouts as the Storm cruised to an 8-1 victory over the San Jose Giants on Saturday evening at The Diamond. The series-opening loss dropped the Giants' overall record to 45-55 at the 100-game mark of the season.
Baez (3-7), San Diego's #5 prospect according to MLB.com, surrendered just four hits during his dominant start to pick-up the win. The only run allowed by the right-hander was unearned.
Lake Elsinore never trailed in the contest as the Storm struck for three runs in the bottom of the second against San Jose starter Joey Marciano to take an early 3-0 lead. Back-to-back singles from Luis Torrens and Jorge Ona started the frame before a one-out walk to Rod Boykin loaded the bases. Nate Easley then hit a slow grounder up the first base line that Marciano fielded and threw to first for the out. Torrens though scored from third on the play while Ona advanced to third and Boykin took second. Chris Baker was up next and he blooped a single down the right field line to plate both Ona and Boykin for a 3-0 Lake Elsinore advantage.
The Giants' only run of the evening came in the top of the third. With one out, Tanner Murphy drew a walk. Johneshwy Fargas then hit a check-swing roller in front of plate that the catcher Torrens fielded, but threw wildly to first. Fargas was credited with an infield single while Murphy advanced all the way to third on the throwing error. Then with Jalen Miller at the plate, Fargas stole second and when Torrens' throw was misplayed by second baseman Eggy Rosario for another error, Murphy raced home with a San Jose run.
Later in the inning, Fargas stole third with two outs before a walk to Wander Franco put the potential tying run on base, but Baez struck out Heath Quinn on three pitches to retire the side.
Still trailing 3-1, the Giants threatened in the top of the fifth against Baez, but came away empty-handed after a triple play. Murphy singled and Fargas reached on an error to put runners on first and second with none out for San Jose. Miller though hit a line drive to shortstop that was caught by a diving Baker, who threw to second to double off Murphy before Rosario threw to first to easily retire Fargas to complete the triple play.
Meanwhile, Marciano settled down after his second-inning struggles and worked three straight scoreless frames over the third, fourth and fifth. The Giants left-hander had retired eight straight Storm hitters until Rosario led off the bottom of the sixth by drawing a walk. Hudson Potts then stepped to the plate and launched a towering two-run home run down the left field line. The homer, Potts' 17th of the year, stretched the Lake Elsinore lead to 5-1 and ended Marciano's night.
The Storm then broke the game open with a three-run bottom of the seventh. Torrens delivered a two-out RBI double into the right center gap off of Rodolfo Martinez to bring home the first run of the inning before Ona laced a two-RBI single into right to make it 8-1 Lake Elsinore.
San Jose's only hit over the final four innings was a Kelvin Beltre two-out single in the top of the ninth.
Marciano (0-2) suffered the loss after yielding five runs (all earned) over five-plus innings of work. He surrendered four hits, walked three and struck out five.
Notes
* The Giants fell to 1-3 on their road trip.
* Fargas (1-for-4, 2 SB) stole his team-leading 31st and 32nd bases of the season.
* Marciano was making his third start with San Jose since a promotion from Augusta (A). He's allowed seven home runs in 13 innings with the Giants.
* Lake Elsinore out-hit San Jose 7-5.
* Franco's (0-for-3, BB) hitting streak was snapped at eight games.
* The Giants are 0-4 at The Diamond this season.
On Deck
The Giants and Storm continue their three-game series on Sunday evening with first pitch at The Diamond scheduled for 5:00 PM. Carlos Sano (1-2, 3.63 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Lake Elsinore is expected to counter with Ronald Bolanos (3-6, 4.66 ERA). The game can be heard live on sjgiants.com with coverage beginning at 4:40 PM.
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