Published on: Apr 12, 2015 @ 23:34
LAKE ELSINORE, CA - Timely hitting, solid defense and a little bit of luck were all in effect Sunday, as the Lake Elsinore Storm took the final game of the season-opening series 6-4 over the Modesto Nuts.
The Eyes got on the board first in the bottom of the second. Jeremy Baltz reached via a one out walk, scoring on Nick Schulz's first of two RBI doubles in the game to make it 1-0.
Lake Elsinore extended their advantage in the third. With a man on and no outs, Auston Bousfield poked a fly ball to left that was misplayed by Dillon Thomas. A Jose Rondon single loaded the bases, but pitcher Troy Stein picked off the runner at third to put men at first and second with one out. Gabriel Quintana doubled in a run two batters later, and after Baltz was hit by a pitch Schulz delivered again. The former San Jose State Spartan laced a single passed the shortstop to plate two and make it 4-0.
Storm starter Rafael De Paula (W, 1-0) continued the trend of solid starting pitching performances for Lake Elsinore. The La Victoria, Dominican Republic product worked five innings and allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five.
A two-run seventh secured a Storm victory. Rondon started the frame with a single but was nearly stranded after the next two batters were retired. Back-to-back two out doubles from Baltz and Schulz proved crucial, plating a pair to put The Eyes up 6-2
Modesto scored two in the eighth to make it close, but the Storm bullpen came through once again to protect the lead.
Matt Shepherd, Kyle Bartsch, Nick Mutz and Luis Hernandez (S, 1) combined to work four innings in relief of the starter De Paula.
Schulz powered the offense with a 3 for 4, 4 RBI day, with contributions from six of the other eight hitters in the Storm line up. The Mountain View, CA native finished the series batting a cool .500 (6 for 12) with seven RBI and a run scored.
With the win, Lake Elsinore (3-1) secured its first series victory of the season.
The Storm will look to continue their winning ways tomorrow against the High Desert Mavericks, who pull in to town for a three game set to cap off Opening Week. Justin Livengood will make his California League debut with a 6:00pm first pitch. High Desert has not announced their starting pitcher.
6-4 triumph wraps up Opening Weekend
Story By Tyler Zickel - Storm Digital Media / Lake Elsinore StormLAKE ELSINORE, CA - Timely hitting, solid defense and a little bit of luck were all in effect Sunday, as the Lake Elsinore Storm took the final game of the season-opening series 6-4 over the Modesto Nuts.
The Eyes got on the board first in the bottom of the second. Jeremy Baltz reached via a one out walk, scoring on Nick Schulz's first of two RBI doubles in the game to make it 1-0.
Lake Elsinore extended their advantage in the third. With a man on and no outs, Auston Bousfield poked a fly ball to left that was misplayed by Dillon Thomas. A Jose Rondon single loaded the bases, but pitcher Troy Stein picked off the runner at third to put men at first and second with one out. Gabriel Quintana doubled in a run two batters later, and after Baltz was hit by a pitch Schulz delivered again. The former San Jose State Spartan laced a single passed the shortstop to plate two and make it 4-0.
Storm starter Rafael De Paula (W, 1-0) continued the trend of solid starting pitching performances for Lake Elsinore. The La Victoria, Dominican Republic product worked five innings and allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five.
A two-run seventh secured a Storm victory. Rondon started the frame with a single but was nearly stranded after the next two batters were retired. Back-to-back two out doubles from Baltz and Schulz proved crucial, plating a pair to put The Eyes up 6-2
Modesto scored two in the eighth to make it close, but the Storm bullpen came through once again to protect the lead.
Matt Shepherd, Kyle Bartsch, Nick Mutz and Luis Hernandez (S, 1) combined to work four innings in relief of the starter De Paula.
Schulz powered the offense with a 3 for 4, 4 RBI day, with contributions from six of the other eight hitters in the Storm line up. The Mountain View, CA native finished the series batting a cool .500 (6 for 12) with seven RBI and a run scored.
With the win, Lake Elsinore (3-1) secured its first series victory of the season.
The Storm will look to continue their winning ways tomorrow against the High Desert Mavericks, who pull in to town for a three game set to cap off Opening Week. Justin Livengood will make his California League debut with a 6:00pm first pitch. High Desert has not announced their starting pitcher.
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