After a bit of a slow start, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in what ended up being a 12-3 rout of the San Jose Giants on Thursday evening at LoanMart Field.

The inning started with the teams tied 2-2 – the result of two-run home runs by Giants left fielder Chuckie Jones in the top of the third inning and Quakes third baseman Paul Hoenecke in the bottom of the fifth inning. But the time the third out was finally recorded, the Quakes had sent 13 batters to plate, having hit a single, two doubles and two home runs to account for their seven runs and a now 9-2 lead.

The Quakes would add three more in the bottom of the eighth and the Giants one more in the top of the ninth for the 12-3 final score.

“Today’s game was a little different than yesterday’s game,” said Quakes catcher Tyler Ogle, who hit a mammoth two-run home run during that sixth inning. “We put up [seven] in the middle there.”

When asked about his two-run monster shot, Ogle admitted that after Giants starting pitcher Martin Agosta struck him out in each of his first two at-bats, he changed his approach in his third at-bat against the hard-throwing right-hander.

“The guy had my number all night,” said Ogle. “I was swinging right under fastballs and I just said ‘You know what? If he blows it by me again, he blows it by me, but I’ve got to at least make an attempt to get the barrel on it this time,’ and I put a good swing on it and fortunately I hit it enough. That was one of my better ones.”

Ogle’s two-run home run on Thursday night was an absolute no-doubter. It was estimated at somewhere between 440 and 450 feet. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although there is no home run tracker at LoanMart Field to give an estimated distance, the general consensus in the press box was that Ogle’s blast traveled somewhere in the 440 to 450-foot range, as it nearly clearing the top of the tall pine trees in left field.

While the powerful Quakes offense rightfully deserves most of the credit in Thursday night’s rout of the San Francisco Giants’ Advanced Single-A affiliate, it would be an injustice to ignore the absolutely brilliant performance by Quakes right-hander Chase De Jong. In his 6 innings of work, the 21-year-old Long Beach native allowed only two runs on three hits while walking two and striking out six. The Dodgers acquired De Jong and shortstop Tim Locastro from the Toronto Blue Jays on July 2 in exchange for three international draft picks, and by the looks of it, they Dodgers may have come out ahead in the deal.

De Jong has been brilliant in both of his postseason starts thus far.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In addition to Thursday night’s win, De Jong also won Game-1 of the Cal League South Division Championships last Saturday with equally impressive numbers. Should the Cal League Championship Series go the distance, there is a very good chance that De Jong would be called upon to start Game-5 – if necessary. However, should the Quakes offense continues to flex its collective muscle – as it did on Thursday night – this series could be over long before a Game-5.