Storm energized in win

By: GREG BALL - Staff Writer | Sunday, May 2, 2004 10:09 PM PDT ∞

LAKE ELSINORE ---- A bit more than one-seventh of the way into the season, the Storm appear to have established an identity. The 2004 version of this team can be characterized by solid pitching, respectable defense, and ---- gasp! ---- electric hitting.

All of a sudden, the surging Storm have won four games in a row, and they've been led of late by their bats.

Just a few days ago, praise for the Storm's hitting would have been unfounded, but three days after setting season highs in runs and hits, the team has had the California League's worst batting average all season did it again in Sunday's 16-1 win over San Jose.

The Storm delighted a crowd of 4,955 at The Diamond by pounding out 19 hits and scoring all 16 runs in a five-inning span between the third and seventh.

All but three players in the starting lineup had at least two hits.

The Storm raised their team batting average 11 points to .253 and made an easy winner of Tim Stauffer, who turned in another solid outing and seemed fueled by the run support he received.

"We haven't been satisfied yet with our performance," said third baseman Joe Lima, who broke a 1-for-19 start with a 4-for-5 day. "You have to love when you score runs like this.

"Our pitching has been dynamite, and they deserve all these runs."

Most of the Storm's production came from the middle and lower thirds of their lineup. The Nos. 5-9 batters ---- Mike Richardson, Steve Baker, Justin Smyres, Andres Pagan and Lima ---- combined to go 13-for-24 with 13 RBIs.

Lima sparked rallies with RBI hits off San Jose right-hander Brian Stirm (1-2) in the third and fourth, and Smyres helped break the game open with a three-run triple in the sixth. Richardson hit a three-run home run to left-center in the seventh.

The Storm's four-game winning streak is their longest of the season, and at 12-11, they're above .500 for the first time since April 14.

"If this in indicative of how we're going about our business, great," Storm manager Rick Renteria said. "We'll just continue to roll and do the best we can." Added Lima: "Winning is contagious, and right now, we're playing solid baseball." Stauffer (2-0) was nearly unhittable, sailing through six innings in which he allowed five hits and an unearned run. He struck out a season-high eight and walked one, numbers indicative of the impeccable control he possessed with his fastball and slider.

"They were chasing some sliders out of the zone, and I was able to sneak a couple fastballs in there too," Stauffer said. "Each day you're going to have different pitches working." Renteria was impressed with the work of his starter, who has thrown at least five innings in each of his five starts this year and six or more in three of his last four.

"When he cuts his fastball, it can move quite a bit," Renteria said. "He's got a very good slider, and he uses both pitches very well." Rene Miniel worked three scoreless innings and earned his first save. San Jose slipped to 10-15.

Greg Ball can be reached at (909) 676-4315, Ext. 2629 or gball@californian.com.