STORM 3, STOCKTON 2: Hunter's hit drives Storm past the Ports

By ED WEHDE - Staff Writer | Thursday, May 15, 2008 1:12 AM PDT ∞

LAKE ELSINORE ---- After looking lifeless for seven innings, the Storm offense came alive enough to plate three runs in the final two frames and pull out a 3-2 win over Stockton at The Diamond on Wednesday.

With the score knotted at 2 in the ninth, Cedric Hunter ripped a two-out single off reliever Chris Farley into left-center field to plate Rayner Contreras with the game-winning run. Contreras had reached on a one-out error and moved to second on Jesus Lopez's single.

"See it and hit it," Hunter said, describing his approach in his final at-bat. "It's just a baseball game. No matter what the situation is, just be calm and make the pitcher come to you."

Farley came to Hunter with a change-up, and the center fielder belted it for the game-winner.

"It was a good pitch, I just stayed on it," Hunter said. "As soon as I hit it, I knew it was done. It's good to have that (relieved) feeling coming through."

The win was the second in a row for Lake Elsinore (19-21) and assured it would remain atop the Cal League South Division standings another day. Stockton (26-14) saw its lead in the North Division shrink to one-half game pending the outcome of San Jose's game against Modesto.

Ports starter Trevor Cahill was unhittable early. The only Storm baserunners through the first four innings reached on an error and a pair of walks.

"I have to tip my hat to (Cahill)," Hunter said. "He was very good. (He threw) sinkers everywhere. They were hard to lay off. We just kept battling."

Cahill's night ended when third baseman Darryl Lawhorn booted Javis Diaz's grounder with two outs in the eighth. Sam Demel came on and walked Hunter and gave up an RBI single to Eric Sogard.

Sam Carter then struck out, but he reached first on a wild pitch to load the bases, and Mitch Canham worked a walk to force home the tying run.

Storm starter Nathan Culp pitched well, holding Stockton to two runs in seven innings, but got no decision. The left-hander gave up seven singles ---- four of which never left the infield ---- and struck out two without walking anyone.

The only damage against Culp came in the top of the first.

With one out, Jermaine Mitchell beat out a grounder to third base, and Sean Doolittle singled to left. Chris Carter singled home Mitchell, and Lawhorn's sacrifice fly plated Doolittle.

Mike DeMark threw a scoreless eighth for the Storm, and R.J. Rodriguez (3-2) was perfect in the ninth.

Et cetera

Stockton LF Archie Gilbert went 0-for-4 to see his 25-game hitting streak snapped 10 games short of the Cal League record.

Contact staff writer Ed Wehde at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2633 or ewehde@californian.com.