Lake Elsinore Falls 16-3 in Home Opener

Lake Elsinore — It was a night to forget for the Lake Elsinore Storm pitching staff which allowed 16 runs on 17 hits and nine walks as the Storm got blown out 16-3 in their home opener against new Angels affiliate Rancho Cucamonga.

The lone quality pitching performance of the night for Lake Elsinore came courtesy of starter Winyer Chourio. The 22-year-old right-hander worked four complete innings and allowed just one run on four hits, walked two, and punched out six. Despite traffic on the base paths, Chourio managed to weave his way out of trouble with timely strikeouts and ground balls – none bigger than an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play to finish the top of the fourth inning and close the book on his outing.

At the time of his departure, Lake Elsinore led 2-1.

“Winyer gave us four strong innings. He found ways to get out of trouble and keep us in the game early,” said Storm manager Brallan Perez, “Hopefully he can keep repeating what he did today.”

Following Chourio’s departure, the Lake Elsinore bullpen fell apart, as four different arms and one position player yielded 15 runs over the next five innings. Rordy Mejia, the first out of the pen, was charged with the loss. The 20-year-old righty, who split last year between the Dominican Summer League and Arizona, allowed three runs on three hits and two walks in his inning of work.

The sloppiest inning of the night, though, came in the top of the 8th. Twelve Quakes hitters came to the plate in the inning as they pushed across seven runs to turn the game into a laugher. Brandon Langley and Daichi Moriki combined to issue four free passes in the frame, including back-to-back four-pitch walks by Moriki with the bases loaded.

Kale Fountain sets up in the box for Lake Elsinore. (Photo: Robert Escalante)

While the Storm pitching staff struggled to stay afloat, the offense had a modest night, pushing across three runs on nine hits and drawing a combined four walks. From the leadoff spot, Ryan Wideman went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. The 22-year-old had played his entire college career and the early portion of his pro career with a rather exaggerated leg kick. However, here in 2026, the toosly centerfield has worked hard on his mechanics, and is cutting down on that leg kick.

“He’s been working on stuff since last year at instructional league,” said Perez, “He’s been working on being a little bit shorter to the ball and getting that barrel out in front. We like where he’s at right now.”

Right fielder Kale Fountain provided the night’s loudest contact for Lake Elsinore as he went 1-for-4 with a double off the top of the wall in the bottom of the second. He added a stolen base as he scored a pair of runs. While he made solid contact three times at the dish, Fountain did make his second error of the season out in right field.

Jorge Quintana left the contest still searching for his first hit of the season as he went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Despite the 0-for start, Perez likes what he’s seen in the young shortstop’s approach and believes the hits are soon to follow.

“Quintana is someone we’ve had work on his mechanics as well. We’re working with him on his timing, specifically on the fastball, but we really like his approach at the plate.” Perez said.

Odds and Ends

First baseman Luke Cantwell made his second mop-up pitching appearance in four games for the Storm. The Padres’ 20th-round pick out of Pittsburgh in last year’s draft had a hit in four trips to the plate as the designated hitter before heading to the mound. … Undrafted free agent Conner Westenburg had a pair of hits for the second time in three starts. The McNeese State came in Sunday as a pinch-runner and swiped a base. … Infielder Jose Verdugo had a single in his first trip to the plate. He is the only Storm batter with a hit in each of the team’s first four games.