Padres Minor League Roundup For August 13th

Single A: Lake Elsinore Storm (66-56)

Lake Elsinore played the Inland Empire 66ers on the road again last night and lost the game 6-8 in a late effort.

Lake Elsinore’s pitching staff has struggled as of late, allowing six or more earned runs in six of their last twelve games. During that span the team has won just four games and eclipsed six runs just three times. You can start to see why the L’s have been piling up for the month of August. During this time, the Storm has lost their iron grip on the division. The team slipped down to third place but remains just one game out of first. It wasn’t a bad effort by the Storm, but it still wasn’t enough.

Mallex Smith opened up the scoring in the top of the third when he reached base on a throwing error and then scored on an Alberth Martinez double. Elliot Morris seemed to have things under control for Lake Elsinore. But after breezing through the first three innings, he gave up three singles, a double, and two walks (one intentional) which lead to the 66ers jumping ahead 3-1. Morris came back to pitch a scoreless fifth, which would be his last frame. Lake Elsinore relievers didn’t offer much … relief. Chris Nunn and Alan Oaks combined to allow 5 more runs over the next two innings. Now down by seven, Lake Elsinore went into beast mode and tried to salvage a win. Dane Phillips provided a three-run homer in the eighth to cut the deficit in half. With the walls closing in, Jeremy Baltz and Duanel Jones both hit home runs in the ninth. Lake Elsinore would leave two on and get two consecutive outs to end the game.

Future Friar of the Game

Dane Phillips: 2-for-4, 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI, K

Alberth Martinez: 2-for-5, 2B, R, RBI

Future Friar of the Game

Lake Elsinore Storm Pitching Staff: 8 IP, 13 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 6 K