Lake Elsinore Storm week in review    4/8/10-4/14/10

The season started with a four game series with the High Desert Mavericks which the Storm split two games each. The series was notable for offensive performances by Cody Decker 1B/DH, SS Drew Cumberland, C Michael Collins and LF Dan Robertson.

Cumberland was also responsible for two poor defensive performances in games two and three where he committed both throwing and fielding errors to total 5 errors.

Highly regarded prospect 1B Allan Dykstra had a difficult first series with only one hit for the series.

On the pitching side, starters Anthony Bass and Nick Schmidt turned in excellent performances with Bass winning the first game and Schmidt getting a no decision in the second. Erik Davis also turned in a good performance in game four.

Bass: 5 IP 3H 1R 3SO 1HR allowed

Schmidt: 5IP 1H 1BB 4SO

Davis: 5.1IP 6H 2R 1ER 2BB 3SO no decision

Relief pitchers Aaron Breit and Alexis Lara won games one and four respectively. And closer Brad Brach successfully closed out both games.

Lara had less luck in the second game of the series where he took the loss, giving up 5 runs on 4 hits with a BB and HR against 5 batters.

The second series, against the Lancaster JetHawks, was a three game affair which the Storm took 2 games to 1.

Decker  and Cumberland continued to play well offensively. Michael Collins added more extra base hits while other members of the team contributed more during the second series. Dan Robertson had a 4/4 game in the second game of the series.

Less errors were made this series. Cumberland committing one error with Vince Belnome and Allan Dykstra with two and one respectively

The starting pitching in game one was notable in that Jorge Reyes, a strong pitching prospect from the ’09 draft, made his first start of the season and won the game:

6.2IP 6H 2R 1BB 3SO and Brett Brach contributed his third save.

Anthony Bass had another strong outing but received a no decision with relief pitcher Colt Haynes winning game 2. He was the losing pitcher in game 3,  also in relief.  Aaron Breit picked up the save in game 2 with Brach getting a well deserved night off.

Some notables for the week:

Relief pitcher Alexis Lara was promoted to Portland to take the place of Adam Russell. Jon Berger was brought up from extended spring training to take Lara’s place in the Storm bullpen.

Cumberland ended up with a .321 batting average with 2HR to go with his 6 SO  5SB and 6 total errors.

Collins hit the best of all his teammates .350 with 3 2B, 1 3B,  2 HR

Robertson and Decker finished the week .346 and .333 respectively. They were eerily similar in their lines and Robertson continues to outperform all expectations as he works his way into the Padres system.

Decker: 10/32, 6R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI

Robertson: 11/28, 5R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI

Carlos Lezcano became the winningest manager in Storm history in the second series of the season.