Storm losing streak a team record at 12 games

By: ED WEHDE Staff Writer | Saturday, August 13, 2005 7:31 AM PDT ∞

LAKE ELSINORE ---- Home cooking didn't help as the Storm's slump reached historic proportions Friday.

Lake Elsinore returned from a winless 10-game road trip with an 11-game losing streak, and even the friendly surroundings of The Diamond couldn't cure the team's ills. High Desert handed Lake Elsinore its team-record 12th straight loss with a 9-1 rout in front of an announced crowd of 5,190.

"The only loss I can think about is this one," Renteria said. "I can't think about the other 11, and the only thing the kids can concern themselves with right now, in terms of learning, is this one.

"(Today) we won't be thinking about the last 12. We'll be thinking about (today). If you're thinking about the last 12, you're not looking forward, and that's what we have to do."

First-place High Desert (62-56 overall, 26-22 second half) remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Rancho Cucamonga in the Cal League's South Division. The last-place Storm (59-56, 18-28) are now seven games behind the Mavericks.

Storm starter Clark Girardeau (3-7) lost his fourth consecutive start after giving up six runs (four earned) on six hits in six innings.

The Mavericks took a 1-0 lead in the first, then put the game away with five runs in the fourth.

A single, a Brett Bonvechio error and a walk loaded the bases with no outs.

Girardeau got Mel Stocker to bounce into a first-to-home fielder's choice, but then walked Pete Maestrales to force in a run.

Angel Sanchez singled in two, Chris Lubanski followed with his second RBI double of the night, and Adam Keim plated Maestrales with a sacrifice fly to center.

"If we execute the plays we're supposed to execute, maybe we limit the damage," Renteria said. "All you're trying to do in many instances is limit the damage."

High Desert added three more runs off Daniel Baca in the seventh with Stoker's two-run triple the biggest blow.

The Storm offense, meanwhile, did little against Mavericks starter Devon Lowery (6-1), who is headed in the opposite direction as Girardeau. Lowery won his fifth straight start by holding Lake Elsinore to a run on five hits and a pair of walks in 6 2/3 innings.

The lone Storm run came on Jordan Pickens' RBI double that plated Bonvechio on the seventh.

"Right now, we're not swinging the bats very well," Renteria said. "But it's not for lack of effort."

Storm watch

The Storm have guaranteed that they'll win in tonight's game. If the team loses, all fans in attendance will receive a ticket to a future Storm game, according to Storm director of media relations Casey Hauan. Hauan added that fans who attend the game will also receive a future ticket if the Storm win.

Ed Wehde can be reached at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2633 or ewehde@californian.com