In case you haven’t noticed, the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are doing something extraordinary right now – they are on a historic 18-2 run in the second half (19-2 if you count the final game of the first half) and have increased their lead over the Lake Elsinore Storm to six games in the highly-competitive California League South Division.

Although the Quakes offense and defense have been off the charts since the second half began on June 19, it has been their phenomenal pitching, both starting and relief, that has them firmly in control of the Cal League South. Taking it one step further, it has been the brilliant pitching of 23-year-old Lindsey Caughel in his last four outings that is, or at least should be sending a very loud and clear message to Dodgers Vice President of Player Development DeJon Watson and to Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti.

Since returning from the disabled list for a strained oblique on June 22, Caughel is 4-0, has walked four, has struck out 28 and has allowed only one earned run in 26 innings of work. This figures out to be an alien-like .035 ERA.

Caughel has gone as far as he can go at the Single-A level. It’s time for him to move up to Double-A.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

On the season Caughel is 6-3 with a 3.05 ERA – tops among all Quakes starters. In his 65 innings of work this season he has walked only nine while striking out 60 for a Kershaw-esque K/BB ratio of 5.67. In his 11 outings this season Caughel has gone five innings or more in 10 of them and seven innings four times. To put this into perspective, only other two Quakes starters to have gone seven innings this season – Dodgers 2013 first-round draft pick Chris Anderson and 2012 twentieth-round draft pick Jharel Cotton, who have both do so once.

On Wednesday, Caughel went seven strong innings allowing no runs on seven hits while walking none and striking out a season-high nine against the powerful Lake Elsinore Storm. He was relieved by 17-year-old lefty phenom Julio Urias (one inning) and lefty Daniel Coulombe (one inning) for a combined 3-0 shutout win. Coulombe earned the save, his fourth during the current 18-2 run.

“It’s fun when everything’s working,” said Caughel after Wednesday’s matinee game at LoanMart Field. “Just pounding the zone like I always do and just getting better. I just want to keep taking the lessons to be learned and use those to get better.”

Caughel said that the key to his success since returning from the DL has been his confidence.

“Confidence is so huge in this game. To be successful you have to be confident,” said the Orlando, Florida native. “I came back from rehab on a mission, really. I was bummed that I had to miss some time, six weeks, and it really set me back and I wanted to prove something. I’m just trying to be as confident as possible and make quality pitches, focus in on every single pitch.

“I’ve learned this year how to set up hitters better,” added Caughel. “As you grow as a player you learn more about yourself and I think that the most important thing is knowing yourself.”

As for the current 18-2 run, Caughel was quick to credit the entire team.

“This is a great group of guys,” said Caughel. “Everybody on this team checks their ego at the door and nobody feels like they’re entitled to anything. Everybody shows up at the ballpark every single day working hard. No matter if you’re in a slump or if you’re going well everybody roots for each other. With the starting pitchers it’s a competition but everybody is on each other’s side, there’s no animosity there. It’s a competition you’ve got with each other but it’s a good competition, it’s a friendly competition and it pushes everybody to be better.

“The defense has pulled me out of some tight jams, especially today,” Caughel continued. “[Catcher Tyler] Ogle threw some guys out on base and that was huge, I mean just huge. Everybody is in each other’s corner and it’s fun to play for a team like that. Everybody’s pulling on the same end of the rope. It’s really fun.”

Quakes right-handed closer Rob Rogers echoed much of what Caughel said about the team’s incredible second-half success but added something most people probably never even considered.

“After the first half everybody went home and got a little break and relaxed,” said Rogers. “But then we couldn’t wait to get back to see each other and start working together again, and we started playing better.”

Playing better indeed. In fact, Rogers has played a huge role in the Quakes incredible run. He has appeared in nine of the 20 second-half games during which he has allowed five runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out nine. But more importantly, Rogers has picked up six saves since the second half began on June 19.

So what does Caughel think his chances are of being promoted to Double-A Chattanooga in the near future?

“It’s hard but you can’t worry about stuff like that,” Caughel said. “You’ve just got to go out there and give your team a chance to win every fifth day. Hopefully my career advances forward but I’m having a great time with these guys here in Rancho. You’ve got to live in the now, in the present and keep your mind focused on the here and now and not the ‘what ifs’ of the future.”