The Lake Elsinore Storm continued their second half of the season surge with a 4-2 winning record for the week and a 21-13 overall record for the second half. That keeps them in first place for the second half of the season and in second place overall for the season.

Middle infielders Jeudy Valdez SS and Jonathon Galvez 2B continue their hot hitting with Galvez holding his average at .303 with two doubles, eight RBI and two homeruns for the week. Valdez contributed a double, triple, homerun and six RBI for the week.

In a review of their season so far, Galvez is at .303/.373/.486 and is tied for second with most runs scored (63), third for most doubles (26), tied for first for most triples with Valdez and Payne (5), second in HR (10), third in RBI (65) but continues to strike out a bit too much for someone at the upper third of the line up (85).

Valdez has a .287/.325/.458 line while tied with Galvez for second in runs scored, second with 27 doubles, tied for triples (5), third for HR (9), second for RBI (69) but also has more strikeouts than you would want (76) for a top of the order hitter. They are both proficient base stealers with 26 of 35 for Valdez and 30 of 36 for Galvez.

The defense for both is improving but they make a lot of errors at their positions with Galvez having 21 and Valdez 20. This is an improvement from their past performances and the organization has wisely chosen to leave them in a set position after a lot of switching at the beginning of the year. Hopefully they are both in the positions which best suit them, although further testing might take place if the defense doesn’t improve.

First baseman Nate Freiman doesn’t get much notice but he is also having a very good season while holding a .300 average and consistent run production. He is the team leader in RBI with 90 and doubles with 29. The Padre organization has depth at both corner infield spots and Freiman seems to be developing good power as he matures. If Rizzo is the 1B of the future the eventual move of Freiman to a different position or organization would be inevitable.

As a side note, starter Nick Schmidt seems to be making a nice recovery from his most recent injury.  During the past week he pitched eleven innings over two games with eleven hits, eleven strikeouts and racked up two wins and a 2.73 ERA.

For roster moves, the Storm moved OF Daniel Meeley to the DL with an ankle sprain and promoted OF Oscar Garcia from Fort Wayne to take his place.