Storm Win Fourth Straight in Opener Against Quakes

With a bevy of mid-season moves, tonight's Lake Elsinore Storm roster looked drastically different from the one that was on the field just 9 days ago. A top prospect was moved, multiple pitchers and position players were brought up to High A, and many new faces walked into The Diamond for the first time tonight. Despite these Pipeline-sized roster waves, the outcome remained the same as the Storm won their fourth straight game on a muggy Tuesday night in Lake Elsinore.

Here are the numerous new guys that could be found on tonight's roster:

RHP Matt Boswell

RHP Will Geereds

RHP Jared Kollar

RHP Dylan Nedved

C Colton Bender

OF Ruben Salinas

OF Samuel Zavala

The night also began with an entirely different kind of new face on the mound as Drew Pomeranz was tonight's starter. A Padres reliever that has missed much of the last two seasons, he pitched the game's opening frame, struck out one, allowed two hits, and one earned run.

With the team's identity intact despite the players wearing the uniforms, the Storm responded immediately. With 2 outs, a Marcos Castañon walk set the table for a Nerwilian Cedeño triple to tie the score at 1 apiece. Justin Farmer would then follow him with an extra-base hit of his own, taking the lead 2-1.

Duncan Snider would piggyback off of Drew Pomeranz's start, ultimately going 6 innings, allowing just 3 runs, and striking out 6. Unfortunately, all three of his earned runs came in his first two innings of work. This would give the Quakes a 4-3 lead through 3 innings. Before exiting the game, Snider had a taxing inning when, after securing 2 outs on 4 pitches, he would give three batters three free bases. He would then strike out the next batter he faced for his first quality start as a member of the Lake Elsinore Storm.

Finally, in the 6th inning, the Storm would tie the game on a passed ball, yet another staple of this Storm 2022 season; capitalizing off of mistakes. In the following inning, Jackson Merrill would lead it off with a triple, needing only a sacrifice fly from Marcos Castañon to take the lead.

Tonight's win would give the Storm four straight before taking the field tomorrow night for Woof Wednesday!

-Written by Justin Jett