Bells ring, Storm win: Eyes down Giants on Hoffman Night

LAKE ELSINORE - "BONG…… BONG...... BONG……" The bells tolled tonight for the San Jose Giants, as the Lake Elsinore Storm blanked their North Division foe in a 3-0 win at The Diamond with San Diego Padres legend Trevor Hoffman in the house for a bobblehead giveaway featuring the future Hall of Famer.

After Hoffman began the game with a bullpen entrance and first pitch - set to the tune of AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" - Lake Elsinore jumped out to an early lead in the first. Auston Bousfield began the inning with a double, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a Nick Schulz sacrifice fly.

Storm starter Brad Wieck (W, 1-4) took over from there. The southpaw twirled six shutout innings and allowed just two hits. He walked two and struck out six en route to the first California League win of his career.

Lake Elsinore would add single runs in the fifth and seventh to pad the lead. Donavan Tate hit his sixth homer of the year to make it 2-0 in the fifth, and a passed ball plated the other Storm score.

Griffin Russell, Eric Yardley and Jason Jester (S, 4) each worked a scoreless inning in relief.

Auston Bousfield paced the offense with a 3 for 4, one run scored performance. Fernando Perez and Ryan Miller had two hits apiece.

With the win, Lake Elsinore (12-31/43-70) secures its first series win in the second half. The Storm finishes the 2015 season with a 7-1 record against the Giants (26-17/56-57).

After an off day Monday, the Storm return to action for the first of three with the Bakersfield Blaze on Tuesday night at The Diamond. Matt Shepherd (3-7, 5.75 ERA) gets the ball for Lake Elsinore, while Brett Ash (4-8, 4.44 ERA) will go for Bakersfield. First pitch is set for 6:00pm.