If you were to look up the term  ‘as advertised,’ you would see a photograph of 22-year-old right-hander Jose De Leon – well, at least you should.

On Thursday night, the Isabela, Puerto Rico native made his California League debut with that Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and looked every bit as good as he did in 2014 when he posted a 7-0 record and 2.22 ERA when he split time between the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer Rookie League and the Great Lakes Loons of the Low Single-A Midwest League. What made De Leon’s 2014 season all the more incredible was his 119 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched for a remarkable K/9 of 13.9.

De Leon was so good on Thursday night that he carried a perfect game into the fifth inning, having retired the first 13 Bakersfield Blaze batters he faced. But after striking out the first batter in the bottom of the fifth inning, De Leon lost his bid for perfection when he walked Blaze third baseman Jay Baum on a 3-2 count. The next batter, Blaze catcher Tyler Marlette, broke up De Leon’s no-hitter with a sharp single to right. On the play, which should have put runners at first and third with one out, Quakes third baseman Paul Hoenecke fired an unexpected throw back towards second base that sailed back into right field allowing both Baum and Marlette to score.

But just as he had done all night long, De Leon remained calm and induced a pop foul to Quakes first baseman Cody Bellinger followed by De Leon’s tenth and final strikeout of the night. Although the Quakes were now down by a score of 2-0, neither run was earned.

Dodgers top pitching prospect Jose De Leon was perfect through 4.1 innings in the Quakes season opener against the Bakersfield Blaze on Thursday night. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Having thrown 76 pitches (52 for strikes) through five innings in his first outing of the season, new Quakes manager Bill Haselman elected to pull De Leon in spite of his near perfect performance in which he allowed no earned runs and only one hit, one walk, and his 10 punch-outs. And while it seemed almost criminal that De Leon was removed after such a stellar performance, he left in a position to suffer the loss instead being in a position for a well-deserved win.

Fortunately, Quakes right fielder Joey Curletta homered in the top of the sixth and walk, a stolen base, an advancing ground out and an infield single by Adam Law produced the game-tying run in the top of the seventh inning, thus taking De Leon off the hook for the potential loss and instead put him in position for a no-decision.

De Leon was relieved on the mound by left-hander Michael Johnson, who threw two strong and scoreless inning with three strikeouts. Johnson was followed by right-hander Randy Fontanez who walked one and struck out one in his two innings of work.

The Quakes took a 3-2 lead in the top of the ninth inning after a walk to Paul Hoenecke, a wild pitch, another walk to Adam Law and an RBI double by Quakes left fielder Devan Ahart to give Fontanez the first win of 2015 for the Quakes.

Worthy of mention was the equally impressive pitching performance by Blaze starter Edwin Diaz who allowed no runs on three hits with a walk and eight strikeouts in his five innings of work. But like De Leon, Diaz did not figure in the decision with Blaze reliever Emilio Pagan suffering the loss.

After three more games against the Blaze at historic Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield, the Quakes will travel to Inland Empire for a three game set with the 66ers before returning to LoanMart Field for their Home Opener on Thursday, April 16. If Haselman sticks with a five-man rotation, De Leon’s next start will be on Tuesday, April 14 against the 66ers. Needless to say, regardless of where the Quakes are playing, when De Leon takes the mound he makes traveling to see him well worthwhile.