Early Deficit Dooms Tower Buzzers in 12-0 Loss to Lake Elsinore

ONTARIO, Calif. — The Ontario Tower Buzzers just couldn’t catch a break on Friday night. They fell behind early and never got their offense going, dropping a 12-0 game to the Lake Elsinore Storm at ONT Field.

Lake Elsinore stormed out with six runs in the first inning and didn’t let up. That loss snapped Ontario’s winning start to the three-game weekend series. The Buzzers actually had chances, picking up six hits and drawing five walks, but they went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base.

Marlon Nieves, starting for Ontario, had a rough time finding the strike zone right out of the gate. He walked four, hit another batter, and gave up three hits, all while only getting two outs. By the time Javier Bartolozzi came in from the bullpen, the Storm had already sent 11 hitters to the plate and built a 6-0 lead.

Yimy Tovar got the scoring started by drawing a walk, swiping second, and then came home on a groundout from Jorge Quintana after a throwing error. Yoiber Ocopio gave the Storm a big boost later with a two-run double, and both Jose Verdugo and Tovar chipped in RBI singles.

Bartolozzi managed to steady things a bit, tossing 2 1/3 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Edwin Díaz, making his second rehab appearance, pitched a clean fourth inning and struck out two, but Lake Elsinore kept pouring it on. They added two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings against Jesus Tillero.

The Buzzers did have some early chances to get back into the game. Jaron Elkins singled in the first, stole second and third, but ended up stranded. Ontario put two on in the second, but Mairoshendrick Martinus bounced into an inning-ending double play. Kellon Lindsey made it to third base in the third inning. Elkins doubled with two outs in the fifth, but the clutch hit never came. Their best shot showed up in the sixth when Easton Shelton walked, and Joendry Vargas singled, putting runners on second and third. Lake Elsinore reliever Cameron Nohos shut the door, striking out two to end the rally.

Elkins finished 2-for-4 with a double and two steals. Ching-Hsien Ko added a double and a walk. Lindsey, Vargas, and Conner O’Neal each had a hit.

Lake Elsinore’s Kruz Schoolcraft pitched five shutout innings, scattering three hits and three walks, striking out six for the win. The Storm bullpen handled the rest, locking down the shutout over the final four innings.

Dawson Willis led the Storm’s offense with a pair of triples, three runs scored, and an RBI. Verdugo tallied three hits, plated two, and drove in another two.

The Tower Buzzers get another crack on Saturday night as they try to even up the series at ONT Field.