By Timothy J Sheridan: Mayor Pro Tem, Lake Elsinore; Director of Broadcasting, Lake Elsinore Storm
Special to Elsinore/Menifee 24/7
Prior to the game on Thursday night, the Minor League Baseball website listed the Lake Elsinore Storm starting pitcher, or “probable,” as it is known, as Storm ace pitcher Bryan Balzer. However, Balzer did not start. Rather, another pitcher started for the Storm in game 3 of the 6-game series against the Ontario Tower Buzzers at ONT Field.
It was Lucas Giolito, who has won 71 games in the Major Leagues, including 10 last year for the Boston Red Sox, and who was signed by the San Diego Padres as a free agent on April 22.
While it did not start well for Giolito, the Storm eventually won the game, 9-3.
Indeed, by the time Giolito had thrown 5 pitches, he had given up 2 doubles, thrown a wild pitch, and Lake Elsinore was down 1-0. Later in the 1st inning, the SoCal native gave up another earned run. Fortunately, Giolito settled down over the next 4 innings and gave up just 1 more earned run. All told, he pitched 4.1 innings, struck out 6, gave up 5 hits, and walked 1.
But Giolito was not the story. It turned out to be Balzer, who had been scheduled to start the game. Balzer came into the game in the 5th inning and pitched 4 scoreless innings, striking out 6, giving up just 1 hit and not walking anyone. It was a masterful performance in relief from the Storm’s best pitcher. Balzer improved his record to 3-0 on the season. Impressively, he threw just 53 pitches in those 4 innings – 38 of which were strikes.
On the offensive side, Storm first baseman Luke Cantwell hit a 3-run home run in the 4th inning to make up for Giolito’s early troubles.
Other contributors in the Storm win included catcher Truitt Madonna, who had 2 hits and drove in 2; right fielder George Bilecki, who had 2 hits, 2 RBI’s and walked 3 times; and designated hitter Jorge Quintana, who had 2 hits and stole 2 bases.
The Storm led just 4-3 going into the top of the 9th inning but exploded for 5 runs in the frame to put the game out of reach.
With the win, the Storm improved to 14-10 on the season and leads the series thus far, 2 games to 1. Game 4 gets underway tonight at 6:35 pm at ONT Field in Ontario.
The Storm’s next game at Diamond Stadium is scheduled for May 12 at 11:05 a.m.
For tickets for all Storm games, visit tickets@stormbaseball.com or visit the Diamond Stadium Box Office.
