June 20-23, 2019
STORM vs. 66ERS
After all the festivities during the All-Star break, the second half of the season will kick off for the Storm as they welcome the Inland Empire 66ers to Pete Lehr Field for a four-game series. The 66ers, Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels will be making their third appearance in Lake Elsinore this season after the Sixers took two of three back at the end of April. With 17 head-to-head games played, the Storm currently have the slight edge 9-8, that includes three consecutive series wins (two at San Manuel Stadium and one at The Diamond) for Inland Empire. Even with the close head-to-head record, the Storm still lead overall in many statistical categories such as ERA (3.06), batting average (.246) and runs scored (264). Within the 17 games played, the 66ers have the advantage in runs scored 67 to 65 and ERA (3.20 to 3.59), while batting average goes in favor the Storm .243 to .220.
MORE ABOUT THE 66ERS: Following a last place finish in the South division with a record of 26-41 to wrap up the first half, they will look to contend in order to make a run at the second half crown. As the Los Angeles A+ affiliate, the San Bernardino fans have been treated to some fan-favorite talent making rehab appearances at San Manuel Stadium such as outfielder Justin Upton, starting pitcher J.C. Ramirez and reliever Luis Garcia. Along with the rehabbers, Torri Hunter Jr., Oliver Ortega, Kyle Bradish, Jorge Tavarez and Andrew Wantz were selected to represent the South division for the California League All-Star game for the hometown crowd.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
LAKE ELSINORE STORM
6/20 – MacKenzie Gore - LHP
6/21 – Reiss Knehr - RHP
6/22 – Luis Patino - RHP
6/23 – Aaron Leasher - LHP
INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS
6/20 – Michael Santos - RHP
6/21 – Denny Brady - RHP
6/22 – Cooper Criswell - RHP
6/23 – Oliver Ortega - RHP
June 24-26, 2019
STORM vs. QUAKES
As the Storm continue their seven-game homestand, they will spend the final three games hosting their I-15 rival Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. The Quakes, Class-A Advanced affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, have continued their dominance against the Storm, as well as the rest of the California League which led to a first half championship and playoff berth for the fifth consecutive year. In 15 games between these two ball clubs, the Quakes have the clear advantage 10-5. The Storm welcomed the Dodgers affiliate to The Diamond back on May 28-29, including a doubleheader, with two of the three games going in favor of Rancho. By virtue of the head-to-head record, it is not surprising that the Quakes lead in runs scored by a large margin (80 to 58), ERA (3.27 to 4.23), but not in batting average, which favors the Storm minimally (.240 to .226).
MORE ABOUT THE QUAKES: Being the South division first half champs not only clinches home field advantage in the postseason, but they can prepare and compete for the best overall record in the California League. Playing away from their home at LoanMart Field has been a strength of the team all season long. In 35 games, they are 25-10 (.714), which ranks first in the league and in comparison, Modesto has the next best road record at 20-15 (.571). To make matters even greater, the Quakes have seven players representing the organization in the All-Star game. The players include shortstop Jeter Downs, outfielder Donavan Casey, third baseman Devin Mann, catcher Connor Wong, right-hand pitchers Wills Montgomerie and Edwin Uceta and lastly, left-hander Logan Salow.
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
LAKE ELSINORE STORM
6/24 – Elliot Ashbeck - RHP
6/25 – Caleb Boushley - RHP
6/26 – MacKenzie Gore - LHP
LANCASTER JETHAWKS
6/24 – Austin Hamilton - LHP
6/25 – Michael Grove - RHP
6/26 – Josiah Gray - RHP
KEEP AN EYE OUT
With the first half of the 2019 season in the books, dominant performances on the offensive and pitching side of the baseball shined and look to continue as the Storm battle for a second half championship. After beginning the season on a 10-game hitting streak, catcher Luis Campusano continues to play red-hot in the middle of the Storm lineup. The Augusta, Georgia native ranks first in the California League in batting average (.317), third in on-base percentage (.397) and fifth in doubles (16). Behind the plate, the Padres No. 14 prospect has thrown out 10 potential base stealers with a fielding percentage of .988. On the mound, MacKenzie Gore has lived up to his theme of “dominate the day” through 12 starts. The Padres No. 1 prospect is 5-1 with a league leading 1.21 ERA to go along with 83 strikeouts in 59.2 innings. Since the begging of May, Gore is pitching lights out with a 3-1 record, 1.08 ERA including an outing on May 30 where he tossed 4.1 perfect inning against the San Jose Giants. In the bullpen, right-hander Elliot Ashbeck has not only embraced his role has a swing guy who can relieve and start, but also put up big numbers in the clutch. With a first half that saw the Marshfield, Wisconsin native go 3-0 with a 2.15 ERA, his name exploded onto the scene of Minor League Baseball on June 16. In just his third start of the year, Ashbeck went off tossing 15 strikeouts against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, which is the highest strikeout total in all of Minor League Baseball this season and second most in Storm franchise history.
NIGHTS TO WATCH
This seven-game homestand kicks off against the 66ers and features a beloved promotional weekend that returns to The Diamond for the sixth consecutive season. GEEKEND6 will kick off on June 20, Thirsty Thursday, featuring Cadejos baseball & $2 drafts on Nerd Out night. Comic Book Giveaway presented by Rogue Knight Games, post-game fireworks on the field and Superheroes assemble Friday, June 21. Saturday is the fan favorite Star Wars night with a Space Hunter Hat giveaway presented by the San Diego Blood Bank to the first 1,000 fans. Skip the line and guarantee yourself a hat by donating blood that day at the annual Storm Blood Drive. The weekend concludes with gamer night on Sunday, June 23. Come out and play some of the most popular video games in our first base picnic area presented by LanDiego. We'll also be giving away copies of MLB The Show '19 each inning as well as San Diego County Fair Tickets at the gate. The homestand wraps up against the Quakes with daily promotions such as Bark N Brew Monday presented by John Hine Temecula Subaru, Fiesta Tuesday with 2-for-1 tickets and a special 11AM start on our annual Kids Summer Camp Day.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: THE FIREWORK EXTRAVAGANZA OF THE 2019 SEASON TAKES PLACE ON AMERICA’S BIRTHDAY, THURSDAY, JULY 4. TWO DAYS LATER, THE STORM WILL CELEBRATE THE PURPLE AND GOLD OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS AND WELCOME THE FIRST 1,000 FANS WITH A LE BRON BASKETBALL JERSEY PRESENTED BY LIFESTREAM BLOOD BANK. YOU CAN PURCHASE TICKETS NOW FOR ANY OF THESE GAMES AT STORMBASEBALL.COM. WE’LL SEE YOU THERE!
EYES ON THE OPPONENT
INLAND EMPIRE 66ERS: Third baseman Jordan Zimmerman, who is no stranger to the California League has had great success against Storm pitching this season. In 15 games, the former Michigan State Spartan is batting .314 (16-for-51) with four home runs, eight runs batted in and six runs scored. Zimmerman concluded the first half paving the way for the 66ers offense as he recorded a hit in nine of the final 10 games, totaling a .326 average with two home runs and seven runs batted in. In a starting pitching role, Denny Brady is another Los Angeles Angels farmhand who puts together good performances against the Storm this year. The 22-year-old right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four appearances (two starts), with 18 strikeouts. Overall, Brady has the lowest ERA among 66ers staff (3.05) while also leading in innings pitched (59).
RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES: As first half champs, the Quakes were able to get contributions from all across the diamond leading to their fifth consecutive playoff berth. After a slow start to the season, Los Angeles Dodgers No. 7 prospect Jeter Downs continues to have strong plate appearances and the power numbers have followed. Downs is tied for the team lead in home runs with 12, leads the runs batted in category with 45 and also chipped in 61 total hits. Ever since his promotion from Great Lakes (A), right-hander Josiah Gray has come to the California League and kept consistency. In seven starts, Gray is 3-0 with a 3.12 ERA with 43 strikeouts and the league batting just .237 against him. The New York native has kept the Storm bats silence in two games as he allowed just one earned-run and six hits in 13 total innings.