Herrera wows, but Storm fall in nightmare 9th

LAKE ELSINORE, CA - A brilliant effort by starter Ronald Herrera was spoiled late Tuesday night, as the Lake Elsinore Storm took a 3-0 lead into the ninth but gave up four runs to lose 4-3 to the Stockton Ports.

After a perfect first inning from San Diego Padres pitcher Cory Luebke, who took the hill as part of a Major League rehab assignment, Herrera took over in the second and was lights out. The 20-year old tossed seven shutout innings and allowed just three hits in that span.

Stockton righty Joel Seddon was just as good for the first five innings, blanking The Eyes until the sixth. But the Storm broke through in that inning, plating a pair to go up 2-0. Donavan Tate, Auston Bousfield, Fernando Perez (RBI) and Nick Schulz (RBI) all had hits in the inning.

Lake Elsinore added another run in the seventh after consecutive singles from Storm newcomer Mitch Morales, Tate and Bousfield made it 3-0.

The Storm seemed destined to record their second shutout of the season after Herrera cruised through the eighth, but disaster struck in the top of the ninth. Reliever Chris Nunn walked the bases loaded to start the frame and was promptly replaced by Eric Yardley (L, 1-3). After a hit batter scored Stockton's first run of the game, a sacrifice fly plated their second score and put runners on the corners with one out. A weak ground ball to third in the next at-bat was only good enough for a fielder's choice at second base, which allowed the tying run to score. With a runner on first and two outs, a stolen base put a man in scoring position for Brandon Cogswell. The designated hitter chopped a single up the middle to score the eventual game-winning run for the Ports, and The Eyes fell 4-3.

Stockton needed just one hit to score four runs and take the lead in the ninth, one quarter of their total offensive output for the entire game. The loss puts Lake Elsinore, which has lost four straight, at a season-worst 11 games under .500.

The Storm (27-38) will try and salvage the series Wednesday night at The Diamond in their final home game of the first half. Rafael De Paula (4-4, 4.20 ERA) gets the ball for Lake Elsinore while Dillon Overton (2-3, 4.03 ERA) will go for Stockton (33-32). First pitch is scheduled for 6:00pm.

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