Game Summary:LAKE ELSINORE, Calif - A back and forth affair on Sunday in Lake Elsinore ended up in favor of the home team, who were led by SS Gabriel Arias and another strong showing from the Storm bullpen in a 5-4 victory over the Lancaster Jethawks. Arias, the 19-year-old Venezuelan,
Game Summary:
LAKE ELSINORE, Calif - A back and forth affair on Sunday in Lake Elsinore ended up in favor of the home team, who were led by SS Gabriel Arias and another strong showing from the Storm bullpen in a 5-4 victory over the Lancaster Jethawks. Arias, the 19-year-old Venezuelan, went 3-4 with two solo home runs while stretching his hitting streak to nine games. His second inning opposite field shot gave the Storm an early 1-0 advantage only to see Lancaster rally against All-Star RHP Elliot Ashbeck, who made his second start of the season.
With the Storm trailing 3-1 in the seventh inning, Arias belted his second home run of the game and team-leading seventh of the year. Later in the frame, C Jalen Washington ripped a two-out single to left to score 2B Eguy Rosario to tie the game at 3-3. The Jethawks scored an unearned run off eventual winner, Seth Blair (1-0), to regain the lead only to see the Padres' affiliate rally once more.
With one out in the bottom of the eighth, C Luis Campusano singled up the middle followed by Arias' third hit of the game, a single into left field, putting runners at first and second. After a pop up to the first baseman, Rosario singled to center field to tie the game at four. An ensuing throwing error on the play would allow Arias to score from first to give the Storm a 5-4 lead. And then it was Miller time.
All-Star closer, Evan Miller would get the final three outs, throwing six pitches, all strikes, to earn his league-leading 10th save of the season.
The Storm are five games back of the Dodgers' affiliate, Rancho Cucamonga, with seven games to play, which includes two more at home against Lancaster followed by a five-game series in Rancho to close out the first half.
Noteworthy:
Seth Blair/RHP: 1st California League win (2 IP, 0 earned runs, one hit)
Evan Miller/Closer: 10th Save, 1st in league, overall has allowed 11 hits in 21 games/28.2 IP with a 1.26 ERA
Gabriel Arias/SS: 3-4, two home runs, nine game hitting streak
Olivier Basabe/INF: RBI streak ends at seven games (10 RBI)
Storm Team: The Storm are 20-11 in their last 31 games, improving to 32-29 overall
WP: Seth Blair (1-0)
LP: Nate Harris (2-4)
Sv: Evan Miller (10)
HR: LE: Arias (6th, solo, B2) (7th, solo, B7) | LAN: Herrera (10th, solo, T4 )
Time: 3:09
Att: 2,332
On Deck:
On Monday, June 10 at 6:00pm, RHP Dinelson Lamet will make his third rehab start with the Storm. Lamet, who had Tommy John surgery in 2018, was 7-1 with a 2.35 ERA for Lake Elsinore in 2016, eventually making 21 starts for the Padres in 2017. He will be opposed by Lancaster RHP Garrett Schilling in Game 4 of the five-game series. For the best available seats buy online at stormbaseball.com or call 951-245-4487.
