LAKE ELSINORE -- The Storm kicked off the second half of the California League season Thursday night with a few new faces, a big crowd and $1 beers.

And the team gave the people what they came to see.

Lake Elsinore got a big contribution from the bottom of its order, as No. 9 hitter Ali Solis and No. 8 hitter Danny Payne combined to scored three runs to lead the Storm to a come-from-behind, 5-3 victory before a crowd of 6,971 at The Diamond.

Solis, a catcher, went 1-for-2 with a single, a walk, a run scored and two RBI, and Payne, a left fielder, was 1-for-2 with a triple, two walks, two runs scored an RBI.

"I think that's something that makes our team unique, that we can hit one through nine," Payne said. "A lot of guys are flexible and can hit in a lot of spots in our lineup. Any time you can get production from the bottom part of the lineup, it takes a little bit of pressure off the three, four and five guys.

Right fielder Sawyer Carroll also had an RBI in his first game since being called up from Fort Wayne, and fellow newcomer Matthew Clark had a double in his first at-bat.

On the mound, starting pitcher Corey Kluber (6-6) went six innings, striking out six. Kluber conceded three earned runs on six hits and walked three.

Reliever Bryan Oland picked up his 18th save for the Storm (40-31 overall, 1-0 second half).

In defeat, left fielder Preston Mattingly, son of former New York Yankees great Don Mattingly, had two RBI and scored once for Inland Empire (32-39, 0-1).

Scott Van Slyke, son of former Major Leaguer Andy Van Slyke, had the 66ers other RBI.

Mario Alvarez (1-1) took the loss for the 66ers after coming in for the rehabbing Eric Stults.

Inland Empire led 3-1 before the Storm scored two in the bottom of the fifth and two in the bottom of the sixth.

Payne led off the fifth with a walk and took second on a wild pitch. Solis then smacked an RBI single to left on a hit-and-run to bring Lake Elsinore within 3-2. Carroll later brought in Solis with a sacrifice fly to center.

In the sixth, Storm third baseman Andy Parrino hit a one-out single before Payne smashed a triple to left to bring him home and give Lake Elsinore a 4-3 lead. Solis then executed a perfect squeeze play, bringing in Payne to put Lake Elsinore up by two.

"I walked to the plate and saw the sign, and everything changed for me because I didn't know we were going to run that play," Solis said. "I saw the run score, and I felt great."

Thursday's win was also a nice change compared with the start of the first half of the season. Back in April, Lake Elsinore started 0-5 before finishing strong.

"It's huge to get a good start," Payne said. "We learned the hard way from the first half, coming off a slow start, it's hard playing catch-up. Any time you can get off hot and jump out in front, you've got to do it."