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Storm sweep into division finals

Sogard goes 4-for-4, Kulbacki drives in four in series clincher
September 5, 2008
Eric Sogard went 4-for-4 and Kellen Kulbacki homered and drove in four runs Thursday as the Lake Elsinore Storm swept past the Inland Empire 66ers, 8-2, to advance to the California League South Division Finals.

The victory came after Lake Elsinore won the completion of a suspended game and propelled the Storm into the second round and a matchup with the Lancaster JetHawks.

Sogard doubled and scored on Kulbacki's two-run single in the first inning, then singled in the fifth and seventh. After Kulbacki's two-run shot in the seventh, Sogard plated two more runs with another base hit in the eighth.

Luis Durango went 3-for-5 and Cedric Hunter had two hits and scored twice for the Storm, who lost to San Jose in last year's Championship Series.

Lake Elsinore starter Nathan Culp (1-0) yielded two unearned runs on five hits while striking out four and walking two over 5 2/3 innings. Brandon Gomes allowed two hits and fanned four in two scoreless frames.

Inland Empire's Victor Garate (0-1) lasted 4 1/3 innings and surrendered four runs on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Matt Berezay went 3-for-4 with an RBI for the 66ers. Box score

In other California League action:

Stockton Ports 7, Modesto Nuts 6
Chris Carter homered and drove in two runs and Josh Donaldson hit a solo shot as the Ports staved off elimination in Game 2 of their best-of-3 series. Jay Cox collected three hits and scored a run for Stockton, which hosts the decisive third game on Friday. Box score

Lake Elsinore Storm 10, Inland Empire 66ers 7
In the completion of Wednesday's series opener, Brian Joynt drove in three runs and Mitch Canham went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored for Lake Elsinore. Box score