On June 6, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes held a substantial five-game lead over the defending 2014 Cal League champion Lancaster JetHawks – due in part by help from rehabbing Dodgers Yasiel Puig and Erik Bedard. But since then, their lead dropped to as little as one game and, as of Friday morning, sits at two games with three to play in the first half. In other words, the Quakes magic number to clinch a berth in the 2015 playoffs is two and they can conceivably do so tonight with a win and a JetHawks loss.

If 2015 Cal League All-Stars Cody Bellinger and Brandon Trinkwon can stay hot, the Quakes could clinch a playoff berth as early as tonight. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Unfortunately for the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Quakes, who are 39-28 on the season, they still have three games (of a four-game series) against the Visalia Rawhide, who just so happen to own the best overall record in the Cal League (41-26) and who themselves have already clinched a playoff berth. That said, the Quakes hold a slight 3-2 lead over the Rawhide in head-to-head play this season which, of course, could change drastically by Sunday afternoon.

Although the Quakes have had several prolonged winning streaks this season, most of those came when they had right-handers Jose De Leon and Randy Fontanez in their rotation and right-hander Jacob Rhame in their bullpen, and sluggers Kyle Farmer, Adam Law, Jeremy Rathjen and Jarek Cunningham swinging hot bats for them. But in spite of losing these key players to promotions to Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City (in the case of Fontanez), the Quakes have led in the Cal League South standings since mid-April.

It’s hard to argue that the Quakes didn’t received quite a bit of help in the first half from the Dodgers. Since the season began on April 9, they have had help from Puig and fellow outfielder Scott Van Slyke and rehabbing Dodger pitchers Kenley Jansen, Bedard, Brandon League, Joel Peralta, Paco Rodriguez and more recently Brandon Beachy. And while nearly all of these guys have already or are very near to returning to the Dodgers (or are completing their rehab assignments at Triple-A Oklahoma City), Beachy figures to remain with the Quakes for several more starts in his recovery from not one but two Tommy John surgeries. Beachy appeared in his first actual game on June 16 – his first since August 20, 2013 – and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings allowing only one hit while striking out one and walking one.

“It’s exciting, it’s fun. It gets the blood flowing,” Beachy said after his first game in nearly 14 months. “Somebody in a different uniform in the box. It’s exciting.”

Beachy figures to make his second start on Sunday against Visalia, which could prove to be extremely important to the Quakes if they haven’t clinched by then.

Fans wishing to follow the Quakes can do so on the radio or on-line at FOX Sports 1350 AM.