Storm sweep into 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