Storm Close Out Season With Win at Home vs JetHawks
Lake Elsinore, California
On Monday, Lake Elsinore played their final game of the season at home against the Lancaster Jethawks.
Starting pitcher Reggie Lawson started the night off strong with two quick strike outs in the top of the first before allowing Bret Boswell and Tyler Nevin to reach on walks, Lancaster RF Willie Abreu then popped up to shallow left field to end the inning and strand the two runners.
Eguy Rosario led off the bottom of the first with a hard single up the middle and then advanced to third on a hard hit ball by Chris Baker that slipped under the glove of Lancaster third baseman Alan Trejo and resulted in a two base error. Edward Olivares would hit a sac fly to left field on the first pitch of his at bat to bring in Rosario from third. Baker then advanced to third on a passed ball and Brad Zunica would drive him in a few pitches later in the at bat on a ground out to second base. Rod Boykin followed that up with a ball deep to center field for a double, AJ Kennedy picked up a walk, and Michael Curry hit a sharp single past second baseman Max George to score Rod Boykin as Lake Elsinore’s third and final run of the inning as DH Hunter Jarmon would strikeout looking on a full count in the next at bat to end the inning and strand runners on the corners.
In the top of the second, Lancaster left fielder Vince Hernandez hit a ball deep into right center that appeared to be gone as both Olivares and Boykin made little effort to make the play, but the ball dropped a few feet short of the wall and resulted in a triple and Lancaster’s first hit of the night. Lawson would then walk Joel Diaz and Max George, bringing up Melendez who would hit a 2-run single up the middle also advancing George to third. Carlos Herrera then hit a deep sac fly to Olivares in center to drive in George and tie the game at three. Lawson would then induce a popup by Boswell to end the top of the second.
Lake Elsinore would continue to make hard contact in the bottom half of the inning as Lake Elsinore third baseman Luis Guzman would lead off the inning with a double to the corner in left and Rosario picked up his second hit of the night as the very next batter on a soft single in front of Abreu in right that moved Guzman to third. Guzman would then come around to score on a sac fly by Baker to deep center for the first out. Olivares hit into the second out on sharp liner that was nabbed by Lancaster left fielder Vince Hernandez as it was tailing away from him. On the third pitch of Zunica’s at bat, Rosario stole second for his 9th with the Storm this season and would come around to score on a hit up the middle by Zunica to extend the lead to 5-3. The inning would end on a fly ball by Boykin to left field.
Despite allowing four walks through the first two innings, Lawson would come out again to start the third inning. Lawson appeared to regain his control as he struck out Nevin and Abreu swinging to start the inning and then getting Trejo to pop up to end it.
The score would remain 5-3 until the bottom of the 5th when Brad Zunica led off with a solo shot to right center off RHP Salvador Justo who had come into the game in the third.
In the top of the 8th, LHP Cody Tyler would come into the game for the Storm. Boswell and Luis Castro, who had come into the game back in the 5th to play first, ripped back-to-back singles to start off the inning. Abreu would reach on a fielder’s choice that advanced Boswell to third and put runners on the corners with one out. Trejo followed that up with a sharp single past the outstretched glove of Guzman at third to plate Boswell, making the score 6-4. After Fernandez grounded out to first for the second out, Diaz singled to right field, driving in Abreu, advancing Trejo to third, and bringing Lancaster within just a run. Tyler would be taken out of the game as RHP Blake Rogers was brought into replace him and he was able to get George to ground out to end the inning.
RHP Tom Colletti would come out to the mound for the save opportunity in the top of the 9th. He induced easy ground outs from Rogers and Herrera before striking out Boswell looking to pick up the game and close the door on the Lake Elsinore Storm’s 2018 season. They finished the season at 68-72.
Game Notes
Reggie Lawson– 5.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 6 K
Cody Tyler– 0.2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER
Tom Colletti– 1.0 IP, 0 H, 1 K, S
Eguy Rosario– (4-5), 2 R, SB
Brad Zunica- (3-4), HR, 3 RBI
Growing up in Dodgers country, Bradley would proudly display his Padres fandom through the roughest years of non competitiveness and rebuilding. With the Padres on the verge of contending, he’s excited to get the opportunity to cover them on a regular basis along with their minor league system.