For those who think that Dodgers top infield prospect Corey Seager is overrated or just a flash-in-the-pan (if there is anyone who does), they may want to think again. The 19-year-old Kannapolis, NC native and Dodgers 2012 first round draft pick had what can only be described as a career night on Sunday as the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes pounded the Lake Elsinore Storm 12-5 to complete a crucial three-game sweep of the Padres Advanced Single-A affiliate.

Seager, who has been slumping a bit since his recent promotion from the Low Single-A Great Lakes Loons on August 2nd, collected 2 hits and 4 RBIs in Sunday’s series finale. While this may not be news for the 6-4 / 215 pound younger brother of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager to write home about, the fact that he did it all in one inning is.

Heading into the bottom of the 8th inning with a precarious 3-2 lead, the Quakes sent 15 men to the plate including Seager twice. In his first at-bat of the inning, Seager absolutely crushed a Luis De La Cruz fastball to straight away center for a two-run home run, his third since joining the Quakes and 15th of the season. According to the Quakes Twitter account, the blast cleared the center field batters eye which, if true, would put it in the 450-foot plus range. In his second at-bat of the inning, Seager ripped a single up the middle knocking in two more runs. When the inning finally (and mercifully) ended, the Quakes had scored 9 runs on 7 hits to put the game well out of reach. Although the Storm managed to score 3 runs in the top of the 9th inning off of struggling outfielder-turned-relief pitcher Blake Smith, they were simply unable to rebound from the spirit-crushing 8th inning outburst by the Quakes.

Seager’s 8th inning home run to center field reportedly cleared the batters eye.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Quakes second baseman Darnell Sweeney also had a 4-RBI night with a bases-clearing triple in the bottom of the 3rd inning to overcome a 2-0 deficit giving the Quakes a 3-2 lead. He picked up his fourth RBI on a bases loaded walk in that crazy 8th inning.

Sweeping the Storm was crucial because it gave the Quakes a season 13-10 record over what has traditionally been their fiercest rivals in the Cal League South. This is important should the two teams tie in the Cal League South second-half standings where the final Wild Card berth is still very much up for grabs.

With the series sweep the Quakes moved into second place in the Cal League South second-half  standings one-half game ahead of the Storm. It is highly unlikely that the Quakes will catch the first place Lancaster JetHawks, whom they trail by 8 games. By virtue of winning the first half the JetHawks have already secured a playoff berth for the third time in as many seasons.

The Quakes have anything but a walk-in-the-park in their remaining 14 games, as eight of them are against the JetHawks – four in Lancaster (August 23-26) and four at LoanMart Field (August 30-September 2). After a day off on Monday the Quakes kick off a seven-game road trip Tuesday night against the Mavericks and JetHawks before returning home to conclude their 2013 season.