LAKE ELSINORE – The Lake Elsinore Storm used just two of their 16 pitchers Friday, July 1, and that proved to be more than enough when, for the first time in their long 28-year history, a no-hitter was thrown.
On the first night of the Fourth of July weekend, the Storm ensured that the crowd of nearly 2,000 people would have as much fun as the team has had all season long. Garrett Hawkins began the night on the mound by retiring the side in nine pitches. He would then strike out four of the next six batters he faced, inducing a slew of swings and misses. His mix of high velocity and mind-altering off-speed stuff has been a constant against California League teams all season long. The highlight for Hawkins on the night was retiring all 21 batters he faced in order, which is probably the hardest thing for a pitcher to do.
“Most pitchers, especially in the big leagues, only have their best stuff one out of every four appearances,” longtime MLB scout Hank Jones said. “They have to figure out the other three outings as they go. They really have to hit their targets and keep their opponents guessing.”
With Hawkins having thrown 77 pitches through seven innings of work and a few unfortunate outings just behind him, Manager Eric Junge and Pitching Coach Leo Rosales decided to turn to Alan Mundo for the final six outs of the game. He would instantly reward them for this show of faith, throwing just seven pitches and retiring all three batters he faced. Mundo would then return from the dugout for the final frame after waiting nearly a half-hour as eight batters came to the plate and four more runs crossed the plate for the Storm’s red-hot offense that inning.
In the game’s final frame, Mundo would force Myles Emmerson to ground out to shortstop Charlis Aquino but then, on a 1-2 count, he would hit Jose Bonilla on a fastball inside, taking away the perfect game but keeping the no-hitter alive. After a well-hit lineout found Aquino’s glove for the second out of the game. An ensuing walk would put two men on and keep Mundo just one out away from Storm history. On the very first pitch of the next at bat, Carlos Luis would snag the second well-hit ball at first base, however, this was not caught on a line but rather on the ground.
Mundo would rush over to first, cover the bag, and receive the toss from Luis who had still been crumpled in the dirt from the acrobatic dive just moments before. This last second effort would secure the final out of the game and the first no-hitter in Lake Elsinore Storm history.
Storm fans got even more than they anticipated from the evening as the Lake Elsinore combined no-hitter was not the only remarkable thing to happen. Combining for 18 hits, 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 2 triples and 15 runs scored, the Storm’s prolific offense was on fire. The most notable offensive performer was also the most recent addition to MiLB’s Top 100 Prospect List. James Wood would end his night just one double short of the cycle but put on quite the display. With a single in his first at bat of the game, a 2-run home run over the monstrous right field wall in the 5th inning and a 2 RBI triple in the 6th, Wood was no doubt the offensive player of the game.
After the game, Wood was sporting a .333 batting average to go along with his 1.053 OPS through his first 28 games of professional baseball. At 6’7”’ he has also stolen 9 bases and legged out 9 doubles. Wood was not alone in his offensive brilliance of the night either; four other Storm players would record 2 or more hits including Wyatt Hoffman who led the team with four.
Heading into this week, Lake Elsinore held a 49-32 record, putting them seven games ahead of second place Rancho Cucamonga. This week the Storm will be home in Lake Elsinore taking on Modesto in a six-game series, ending Sunday, July 17. Storm media rep Justin Jett was the main contributor to the original article.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
