The Lake Elsinore Storm overcame a three-run deficit in the ninth inning Tuesday night to win 8-7 in the series opener at San Jose. Trailing 7-4, the visitors put four runs on the board to take the lead and reliever Jose Garcia made it stand up as The Storm maintained its half-game lead in the South Division.
Giants C Ricardo Genoves started the scoring with a solo homer in the second inning but Lake Elsinore came back with two runs in the top of the third. The Giants took the lead right back in bottom of the third, 3-2, and a four-run sixth gave the home team a 7-3 advantage. RHP Brooks Crawford came out of the Giants bullpen and the Storm pushed across an eighth-inning run on a Matthew Acosta RBI double to cut the deficit to 7-4.
Lake Elsinore got to reliever Justin Crump in the ninth to take the 8-7 lead. 1B Jack Stronach, C Brandon Valenzuela and 2B Euribiel Angeles all knocked in runs and Garcia (W, 1-1) pitched a scoreless ninth for the win. Crump only got one out and allowed four runs on three hits and a walk with one strikeout. RHP Austin Reich came in with a one-run lead but gave up the two-RBI single to Angeles.
Giants 2B Brett Auerbach went 4-for-5 from the leadoff spot with a double and two RBIs.
SCOREBOARD
STOCKTON – 4
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – 5
Box
VISALIA – 6
MODESTO – 9
Box
FRESNO – 1
INLAND EMPIRE – 0
Box
