Lake Elsinore @ Rancho Cucamonga Gm 6
The Lake Elsinore Storm stranded the tying run on base and earned a series split with a 6-5 win over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Sunday at LoanMart Field. At 26-28, the Storm remained five games out of first place in the South division, two games ahead of first-half winner Rancho Cucamonga (24-30).
The Quakes took a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, but didn’t score again until the bottom of the ninth, coming up just short. The Storm chipped away with six unanswered runs in the meantime.
Xavier Ruiz (W, 2-0) pitched three scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts to earn the win. Will Varmette (S, 1) had an exciting ninth inning, but struck out the side around a double, a wild pitch and an errant pickoff throw to close it out.
Homer Bush Jr. and Victor Duarte both had two hits for Lake Elsinore.
Luis Rodriguez belted a three-run home run in the first inning for the Quakes. Josue De Paula was 0-for-1 but walked four times and scored a run.
Lake Elsinore host San Jose starting Tuesday and Rancho Cucamonga travels to Stockton.
SUNDAY SCORES
MODESTO – 12
SAN JOSE – 11
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STOCKTON – 4
FRESNO – 5
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VISALIA – 10
INLAND EMPIRE – 12
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