Mother's Day Motivation Inspires Storm to Win Series Against 66ers Presented by The Valley News
After nothing but back-and-forth affairs, the Lake Elsinore Storm took charge of their third homestand series victory with a commanding 10-7 win over the Inland Empire 66ers. It didn't begin quite as smoothly. Miguel Mendez was today's starter for the Storm and after inducing a groundout on four pitches, Mendez
After nothing but back-and-forth affairs, the Lake Elsinore Storm took charge of their third homestand series victory with a commanding 10-7 win over the Inland Empire 66ers.
It didn't begin quite as smoothly. Miguel Mendez was today's starter for the Storm and after inducing a groundout on four pitches, Mendez was bent over behind the mound needing assistance from the trainer. Mendez had to grind through the next five outs after experiencing what appeared to be symptoms of an illness. He would give up two runs in the second inning before being relieved for Kobe Robinson.
Luckily, in the bottom of the next inning, the Storm took the lead for the first and final time of the game. It began on a perfectly placed double down the left field line. After a flyout moved him over, a wild pitch would bring him home. Braedon Karpathios, who was 2-5 with a single and a triple today, reached base with the aforementioned base hit. A Romeo Sanabria single would put two men on base and when Rosman Verdugo smashed a double that would have left the yard in most other Minor League ballparks, both runs would score, giving the Storm the lead.
Kobe Robinson would then pitch a scoreless fourth inning to set up the chance for Lake Elsinore to take an even bigger lead. And they took it. Starting the frame with a couple of walks that would force the 66ers to change pitchers, a Nick Vogt double would drive in both free passes. Vogt was scorching hot this week after a relatively slow start. He would finish the homestand with an OPS of .982 while collecting nine hits and five stolen bases.
The Storm would score three more runs and before a two-run homer in the top of the 9th inning was hit by the 66ers, they were double the score of Inland Empire. They would finish with 10 runs to only seven for the Inland Empire 66ers, giving them four victories im six home games.
The Lake Elsinore Storm now have 15 wins with 11 being recorded at home. In their home ballpark, they also have the most walks, second-best OBP, and fourth-best OPS in all of Single-A. They look to continue that offensive performance on the road this week against the Visalia Rawhide who are six games under .500 and whom the Storm beat at home in their second homestand of the year.