Lake Elsinore Secures Third Straight Shutout with 4-0 Victory Over 66ers

By Larry Belmontes

The Lake Elsinore Storm continued their dominant homestand with yet another pitching gem blanking the Inland Empire 66ers 4-0 on Friday night for their third consecutive shutout victory! Behind a clinical performance from starter Miguel Jose Mendez and a relentless display of situational hitting, the Storm sent a message to the rest of the California League: this pitching staff is for real despite the rough start to the season AND to the series (Game 1).

How It Went Down

It took a few innings for the Storm bats to heat up, but once they did they made every opportunity count while the pitching staff slammed the door inning after inning.

Bottom 4th – The Ice Breaker

The scoring started with Zach Evans, who came up clutch with a line drive single to left field. A misplay in the outfield helped Ryan Jackson score the first run of the game while Kavares Tears moved into scoring position. This was a small play with a big impact that gave the Storm all the momentum they needed. The Storm took the 1-0 lead!

Bottom 5th – Mistakes Prove Costly

With two outs and a man on, Cobb Hightower chopped a grounder that should’ve ended the inning ; however, a throwing error by shortstop John Wimmer allowed Alex McCoy to score, extending the lead as the Storm went up 2-0.

Bottom 7th – Insurance in Pairs

The Storm padded their lead with a sharp RBI double from Kavares Tears, who continued to show why he's one of the team's most exciting offensive threats. Moments later, Zach Evans delivered again with an RBI single up the middle bringing Tears home and putting the Storm up 4-0. Just like that, the game was out of reach because the Inland Empire bats couldn’t solve Mendez or the Storm bullpen.

Pitching Dominance

Miguel Jose Mendez – Master of the Mound

The 22 year old right hander from the Dominican Republic was locked in from pitch one. Mendez struck out batter after batter showing a mix of fastball command and devastating breaking stuff. He set the tone early by striking out the side in the 1st inning and never looked back. Throughout the game he struck out Jorge Ruiz three times, Kevyn Castillo three times, John Wimmer twice, and Raudi Rodriguez twice. In total, Mendez and the Storm bullpen racked up 16 strikeouts, silencing a 66ers lineup that looked completely overmatched.

Three Straight Shutouts

This victory marks the third consecutive shutout for Lake Elsinore, a rare feat in minor league ball where bullpen depth can often be inconsistent. The Storm have outscored the 66ers 10-0 over the last three games asserting control over the series, but not quite sealing the deal just yet. Lake Elsinore’s formula tonight was simple but deadly: dominate on the mound, capitalize on mistakes, and manufacture runs with clutch hitting. With Mendez leading the way and players like Evans and Tears delivering timely hits, the Storm are peaking at the right time. Fans at The Diamond were treated to a clean, efficient, and confident win and with momentum clearly on their side, the Storm are making a serious push in the standings.

Current California League Standings

In the California League South, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are setting the pace at (17-8) with a strong +48 run differential, holding a two game win streak before dropping their most recent outing. Behind them, the Visalia Rawhide have turned things around sitting at (12-13) and are winners of five straight. The Lake Elsinore Storm's recent surge has improved their record to (10-15) putting them third in the division. Meanwhile, the Inland Empire 66ers are in a tough spot now at (7-18). They are 10 games back and riding a three game losing streak.

Up north it’s a battle for the top between the Modesto Nuts and San Jose Giants who are both at (16-9) though San Jose boasts a league best +54 run differential. The Stockton Ports hold third at (14-11) and are still within striking distance. At the bottom, the Fresno Grizzlies continue to struggle at (8-17) now losers of eight straight.

With the Storm heating up and the 66ers cooling off fast, the division could look very different in just a week. All eyes now turn to Saturday’s game at The Diamond as the Storm look to make it four in a row and win the series.

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