If you are one of those who base a game on the very first pitch, you probably would have left Thursday night’s Quakes / JetHawks game before your seat at The Hangar in Lancaster was even warm. But if you had done so, you would have missed out on an outstanding pitchers duel and an exciting battle between two of the three teams tied for first place in the California League’s South Division; a game that the Quakes held on to win by a score of 3-2 to regain sole possession of first place in the Division.

After JetHawks right-hander Adrian Houser retired the Quakes quickly in the top of the first inning, Quakes right-hander Jose De Leon took the mound for Rancho Cucamonga. On De Leon’s very first pitch, JetHawks center fielder Brett Phillips drove his 95-MPH fastball over the center field wall. One pitch, one run.

“That’s the first time that’s ever happened to me, first pitch a home run,” De Leon said after the game. “That would have been an out in any other park. It was a good pitch – down, away – he just got a hold of one.”

Phillips’s ball was assisted by Lancaster’s legendary wind, which was listed as 18-MPH and blowing straight out to center field at game time but occasionally gusted to 25-MPH (or more) during the early innings.

After allowing a first pitch home run, Quakes ace Jose De Leon pitched six scoreless innings, striking out seven. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But just as he has done throughout his brief three-year professional career, the 22-year-old De Leon quickly recovered and, unfortunately for the JetHawks, found his groove and retired the next five batters he faced.

“I try to have a short-term memory when I’m on the mound,” said De Leon. “I just forget about that and get the next guy out.”

De Leon went six innings, his longest outing of the season and longest since coming off the seven-day disabled list for a minor right groin strain that caused him to miss one start. He ended the night allowing only the one run on five hits while striking out seven and walking one.

“I felt great, I felt like I could have kept going longer but it’s early in the season and coming back from the injury,” said De Leon. “But today my leg felt great, I wasn’t even thinking about it and I finally felt that my fastball was there again.”

There again indeed. De Leon’s fastball was consistently clocked at 95 MPH and even hit 97-MPH several times during the game. He also mixed in his off-speed pitches for strikes, thus keeping the normally hard-hitting JetHawks off balance all night.

Houser also pitched great, thereby making the game an “as advertised” pitcher’s duel. The 22-year-old Locust Grove, Oklahoma native allowed two earned runs on (are you ready for this) one hit while striking out three. Unfortunately, Houser struggled with his control, walking four and hitting a batter.

Joey Curletta’s RBI double in the eighth inning proved to be the game winner in Thursday night’s exciting 3-2 Quakes win over the 2014 defending Cal League champion JetHawks.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In addition to De Leon’s great outing, the Quakes bullpen continues to be the team’s strength in the early goings. Right-hander Rob Rogers relieved De Leon in the seventh inning and pitched 1.1 innings of scoreless ball while walking two and striking out one.

Rogers was replaced by hard-throwing right-hander A.J. Vanegas, who allowed one run on one hit with a walk and a strikeout in his 1.1 innings. Vanegas almost let the game get away from him in the bottom of the ninth when JetHawks shortstop Jack Mayfield laced a double into the left field corner with one out and runners at first and second. Although Jethawks second baseman Jose Fernandez scored easily from second base, JetHawks manager Omar Lopez (who was coaching third base) held JetHawks third baseman Marc Wik at third. By every indication, Wik would have easily scored the tying run.

With two outs and the tying and winning runs in scoring position, Quakes manager Bill Haselman brought in left-hander Michael Johnson, who induced JetHawks left fielder Danry Vasquez to ground out to Quakes first baseman Cody Bellinger on three pitches.

With the win De Leon improves his record to 1-1 on the season with a 2.50 ERA. He also now has a team-high 26 strikeout on the season. Rogers and Vanegas each picked up a hold and Johnson collected his first save of the season.

The Quakes open a seven-game homestand tonight at LoanMart Field with three against their archrival Inland Empire 66ers and then four against the Visalia Rawhide. Right-hander John Richy (2-1, 6.35 ERA) gets the start for the Quakes. He will be opposed by 66ers right-hander Chris Ellis (0-2, 6.86 ERA). First pitch is slated for 7:05 pm (PT) and there are still plenty of tickets available through the Quakes website.