LAKE ELSINORE, CA - The losing skid for the Storm continued though the weekend. For the first time since Minor League Baseball began the six-game series, Lake Elsinore has been swept at home after tonight’s 5-0 loss to San Jose and extends the winless streak to seven games.
The first seven innings tonight were nail-biting. Both the Storm and the Giants had their pitching staffs in complete control. San Jose starter Keyner Martinez went five innings and allowed just one base-runner while striking out eight. For Lake Elsinore, Luis Maracara delivered five shutout innings with seven K’s. Just seven batters had reached base in the first seven innings for each side combined, but the Storm fell apart in the eighth.
With one out, Peyton Bonds and Jeremiah Jenkins both singled to put runners on first and third. Rod Barajas Jr. worked a walk and loaded the bases. One batter later, Tanner Mally walked and brought in the game's first run. While a 1-0 lead may not have seemed much, with Lake Elisnore having just two base-runners up to that point, it felt much more than it appeared…. And it only got worse. After a flyout from Angel Guzman, Oliver Tejada blasted his sixth home run of the year for a grand slam. The Giants broke the game wide open in the eighth and catapulted in front with a 5-0 lead. That ended the scoring and Lake Elsinore fell once again.
That marks seven straight losses for the Storm, and the first time they have been swept at home in a six-game series. Lake Elsinore has already clinched a playoff spot, but with 12 games to go, the Storm need to find some momentum to carry over into the next two weeks and the postseason to follow.
Lake Elsinore returns to action on Tuesday to face Rancho Cucamonga for game one of the six-game set. This is the fourth series of the year between the Storm and the Quakes with Lake Elsinore winning nine of the first 18. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT.
About the Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm are the Single-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres in the California League. For more information on the Storm, visit milb.com/lake-elsinore. For information about tickets to any of Lake Elsinore’s 66 home games, call (951) 245-4487 or email: info@stormbaseball.com.