After their remarkable record-setting nine-game winning streak, the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes went on an excruciatingly painful 10-game losing streak which, mercifully, came to an end on Monday night with a dominating 10-4 win over the Bakersfield Blaze (Reds) at historic Sam Lynn Field in Bakersfield.

Much like the Dodgers themselves, the painful losing streak was the result of a power failure by the Quakes offense – especially late in the games. Although it goes without saying that the loss of Dodgers 2012 first round draft pick Corey Seager (who was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga following last week’s Futures Game) contributed significantly to the Quakes woes, it was more so the result of the Quakes smoking hot bats suddenly turning to ice after their epic nine-game winning streak.

As if on cue it was 23-year-old right-hander Lindsey Caughel who stopped the bleeding for the Quakes with yet another great outing. Caughel allowed four runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out five in his six innings of work en route to his fifth win of the second half and seventh on the season (against four losses). Caughel’s ERA now stands at 3.39 – second only to Julio Urias’s team-best 3.25 among all Quakes starters.

Caughel received some (seemingly) rare run support thanks in a big part to Jeremy Rathjen’s second grand slam of the season off of Blaze right-hander Ryan Kemp (no relation). Rathjen’s slam was part of a six-run sixth inning that saw 10 Quakes batters come to the plate giving the Quakes and Caughel a 10-4 lead which they would not relinquish.

The Quakes have hit three grand slams thus far this season – Jeremy Rathjen has two of them.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Quakes left-hander Geoff Brown came on in relief of Caughel and pitched three strong innings allowing no runs and only one hit while walking one and striking out two in his three innings of work.

After their nine-game winning streak, the Quakes found themselves six games ahead of the second place Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) in the Cal League South second half standings. But after losing 10 straight, the Quakes came out of Monday night’s game tied for first place with the Storm with identical 19-12 records.

Although the Quakes lost the hot bat of Seager, they (temporarily) picked up that of rehabbing Isotopes infielder Alex Guerrero – for five games, at least. Through his first two games with the Quakes Guerrero is 3 for 6 (.500) with two doubles for a .571 on-base percentage, an .833 slugging percentage and an alien-like 1.405 OPS. Guerrero is slated to play two games at second base, two games at shortstop and one game at third base, which he did on Monday night. In his two games thus far, Guerrero has not committed an error in three total chances at second base and third base respectively.

The Quakes conclude their four-game set with the Blaze this evening at 7:45 PM and after a much-needed day off on Wednesday begin a four-game series against the High Desert Mavericks (Mariners) at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga. Right-hander Jharel Cotton (3-7, 5.88 ERA) takes the hill for the Quakes tonight against Blaze left-hander Wandy Peralta (6-8, 4.60 ERA).