Storm Rally to Beat Quakes on Friday

Rancho Cucamonga, CA – The Lake Elsinore Storm earned their first win of the series on Friday night, snapping Rancho’s seven-game winning streak in the process, coming from behind to defeat the Quakes by a final of 5-2 at LoanMart Field.

Leading 1-0, the Quakes took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning, but a potentially historic night took a wrong turn, as the Storm scored twice in the eighth to take a 2-1 lead.

Rancho answered in the bottom of the eighth on a Wilman Diaz ground ball, but the Storm roared back in the ninth to take the lead for good.

Wyatt Hoffman’s second RBI hit of the game made it 3-2, before a two-out error allowed a pair of runs to score, giving the Storm some cushion against Felix Cabrera (0-1).

Xavier Ruiz (1-0), who blew the save by allowing a run in the eighth, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, taking the win instead.

Zyhir Hope had two hits and a first-inning RBI to give the Quakes a 1-0 lead.

Rancho starter Patrick Copen struck out seven over 4.1 innings of hitless baseball, while Callum Wallace followed by retiring all eight batters he faced, to keep the potential no-hitter intact.

The Quakes (12-5) will send Edgardo Henriquez (0-0) to the mound on Saturday night, as he takes on Storm right-hander Miguel Mendez (0-0) at 6:30pm. Saturday is post-game Fireworks Night, thanks to Children’s Dental FunZone. Tickets are available at rcquakes.com. Go Quakes!