The Lake Elsinore Storm had a five-run second inning, then held on for a 7-6 win with some clutch relief pitching to avoid a sweep at Inland Empire Wednesday night. The 66ers had the tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth inning, but were turned away.
The Storm jumped on IE starter Harrison Cooney (L, 1-9) for five runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth. Felipe Blanco and Nick Torres each singled in a pair of runs in the second, then Auston Bousfield brought home a run on a sac fly and Marcus Davis chased Cooney with an RBI single in the fourth.
Matthew Shephard (W, 3-7)had a rocky start for the Storm, allowing nine hits and six runs (4 ER) over five innings, walking two and striking out six. But the bullpen was stellar, with Genison Reyes and Bryan Verbitsky splitting the remaining four innings and allowing no more IE scoring.
Reyes and Verbitsky each pitched two scoreless innings and struck out three. Verbitsky picked up the save, his first with LE, by striking out the last two batters with the tying run on second.
WEDNESDAY SCOREBOARD
BAKERSFIELD 12
LANCASTER 5
The Blaze have a 7-run fourth inning, Austin Wilson goes 3-for-4 with a 2B, 3B and 3 RBIs.
STOCKTON 2
VISALIA 8
Third straight win for the Rawhide to stay one game back of Modesto in the North. Jose Queliz with a homer (2), Kevin Cron goes 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs.
HIGH DESERT 11
RANCHO CUCAMONGA 4
Royce Bolinger 3-for-4, HR (12), Ronald Guzman 2-for-4, HR (5), David Perez with a 3-inning save (1). Mavericks take the series, lead Rancho by 2 games in the South.
LAKE ELSINORE 7
INLAND EMPIRE 6
Nick Torres 2-for-5, 2 RBIs, Genison Reyes, Bryan Verbitsky each throw 2 clean innings of relief to preserve the win.
SAN JOSE 1
MODESTO 6
Zach Jemiola (5-3) 7IP, allows 4 hits and a walk, 0 ER, six K’s. Modesto avoids the sweep, one game up on the Giants and Rawhide in the North.
