The Visalia Rawhide dropped their second game in a row to the Lake Elsinore Storm Wednesday night at Valley Strong Ballpark, falling 11-5 and leaving the 2019 California League champs still in search of their first win of the campaign.
Visalia (0-2) jumped out to a 5-4 lead after five innings thanks to a four-run fifth, capped by the first home run of the season by the Rawhide’s A.J. Vuckovich. However, a seven-run sixth inning broke the game open for the Storm (2-0). Lake Elsinore scored four times to open the inning, but with two out the long frame was made even longer by an error from Rawhide right-fielder Neyfy Castillo, leading to three more Storm runs.
Lake Elsinore’s bullpen shut the Rawhide down the rest of the way, with Storm lefthander Ramon Perez earning the win in relief. Visalia righthander Marcos Tineo took the loss, allowing seven runs – four earned – on six hits in the critical sixth inning.
The Rawhide continue their series with Lake Elsinore Thursday at 6 p.m.
Report contributed by Kendall Roy
