ICYMI: Strikeouts and Double Digit Scoring Bring Home A Win On Father's Day

Game Summary:
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif - The final game of the first half happened to be the finest start in the professional career of Storm All-Star Elliot Ashbeck. The 25-year-old, in his 18^th outing and only third start of the season for the Padres' affiliate, dominated Rancho Cucamonga with a career-best 15 strikeouts in a 11-5 victory against the Dodgers' affiliate. The strikeout total is the most in Minor League Baseball this season and second highest in Storm history.
The right-hander received early run support as the Storm led 7-0 after two innings, and Ashbeck did his part to ensure the first winning series of the season against the I-15 rivals. He struck out the side twice, at one point recording six consecutive strikeouts, and had 10 Ks through four innings of no-hit ball. His shutout bid and no-hitter ended in the fifth when Rancho pieced together two doubles to get on the board, but Ashbeck added two more strikeouts in the frame and one more in a perfect sixth for his 13^th punchout of the game, just three shy of a franchise record set by RHP Ben Howard in 2001.
The Marshfield, Wisconsin native struck out the first two batters of the seventh but missed out on matching the Storm standard when he allowed a two-strike single followed by a two-strike ground out that ended his memorable day. The reliever by trade had an impressive 83% strike rate, throwing 86 pitches and 71 strikes. He faced 26 hitters without issuing a walk while also never having a three-ball count the entire game. He struck out every batter in Rancho's starting lineup at least once and more than doubled his previous career high of seven strikeouts.
Lake Elsinore led 11-1 going into the bottom of the ninth as five Storm batters had multi-hit games, led by All-Star 2B Esteury Ruiz, who singled, doubled and tripled, and 3B Gabriel Arias, who went 2-4 with four RBI.
Ashbeck improved to 3-0 and lowered his ERA to 2.15. The Storm are one of only three teams in the league with a winning record, finishing the first half with two rainouts and a 35-33 overall mark.
Noteworthy:
Elliot Ashbeck /RHP: 7 IP, three hits, one run, zero walks, 15 strikeouts (2^nd most in franchise history)
Esteury Ruiz /2B: 3-6, three runs, one RBI (27), one double (13th), one triple (2^nd)
Gabriel Arias /3B: 2-4, two runs, one double (10^th), four RBI (29, tied for team lead with Campusano)
Jalen Washington /C: 2-4, one walk, one run, one RBI, one stolen base
Connor Panas /DH: 2-5, two RBI, first Cal League HR
WP: Elliot Ashbeck (3-0)
LP: Gerardo Carrillo (2-5)
Save: None    
HR: LE: Panas (1^st, solo, T8))
Time: 3:10
Att: 2,075
On Deck:             
The All-Star Game is Tuesday, June 18 at 7:05pm at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino where the Storm will be well represented on the South Division roster with C Luis Campusano and 2B Esteury Ruiz named starters, joined by fellow All-Stars LHP MacKenzie Gore, RHP Caleb Boushley, RHP Elliot Ashbeck, SS Gabriel Arias and OF Robbie Podorsky (Injured List, not playing). The Storm return to The Diamond Thursday, June20 to begin the second half of the season. For the best available seats buy online at stormbaseball.com or call 951-245-4487.