ONTARIO, Calif. — The Ontario Tower Buzzers opened their six-game homestand against the Lake Elsinore Storm with a dramatic extra-inning victory, but the first-place Storm answered back with five straight wins to close out the series.

Ontario won the series opener 4-3 in 10 innings, but Lake Elsinore took the next five games by scores of 4-3, 9-3, 10-7, 4-2 and 12-10 in 10 innings.

By the end of the series, Lake Elsinore remained on top of the California League South Division standings with a 17-10 record. Ontario, the new Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, dropped to 11-15 and sat in third place, 5 ½ games behind the Storm. The Tower Buzzers now turn their attention to a six-game road series against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, who are 16-11 and one game behind Lake Elsinore.

The highlight of the homestand came in the opener when Los Angeles Dodgers left-handed pitcher Blake Snell made his second appearance with Ontario. Snell gave the Tower Buzzers three strong innings, allowing just one hit with six strikeouts and no earned runs.

Ontario’s offense also received a big performance from Ching-Hsien Ko, who went 2 for 4 with a home run, double and three RBIs to help the Tower Buzzers secure the 4-3 extra-inning victory.

Lake Elsinore bounced back in Game 2 after Ontario took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. The Storm answered with two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to move in front 4-2. Easton Shelton brought Ontario within one with a solo home run in the sixth, but Lake Elsinore’s pitching and defense held the Tower Buzzers scoreless the rest of the way in a 4-3 Storm victory.

Ontario again jumped ahead early in Game 3. Emil Morales delivered an RBI double, and Ko followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Tower Buzzers a 2-0 lead. Lake Elsinore responded with three runs in the fourth to take the lead before Ontario tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth. The Storm added a run in the seventh and broke the game open with a five-run ninth inning to win 9-3. Lake Elsinore pitcher Bryan Balzer earned the win after throwing four innings, striking out six, allowing just one hit and giving up no earned runs.

The Tower Buzzers showed more early offense in Game 4 when Morales homered in the bottom of the first inning to give Ontario a 1-0 lead. After Lake Elsinore tied the game in the second, Jaron Elkins answered with an RBI single to put the Tower Buzzers back in front. Ontario extended its lead to 4-1 in the third when Mairoshendrick Martinus tripled to score two runs.

But the Storm continued to apply pressure. Lake Elsinore scored two runs in the sixth and then took control with a five-run seventh inning on the way to a 10-7 win.

Game 5 turned into a pitching battle early. Lake Elsinore starter Tyler Schmitt held Ontario to two hits over five innings while striking out six. The Storm led 1-0 after five innings before Ontario found success against the bullpen and scored two runs in the sixth to tie the game 2-2. Lake Elsinore answered with two runs in the eighth and held on for a 4-2 victory.

The series finale delivered the most offense of the homestand and required 10 innings to decide the outcome. Lake Elsinore outlasted Ontario 12-10, led by a standout performance from Jaqreyvyon Lott, who went 5 for 5 with two home runs and six RBIs.

Despite several competitive games and early leads throughout the series, Ontario was unable to slow down a Lake Elsinore club that showed why it sits at the top of the division. The Tower Buzzers had opportunities in multiple games, but the Storm’s timely hitting, late-inning production and bullpen work helped them take five of six.

Ontario will have Monday off before traveling to Rancho Cucamonga to open a six-game series against the Quakes on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Series Photos

Photos taken by Josh Thompson