While the Dodgers continue in their seemingly endless battle to return to their league’s World Championship Series (the World Series), two of their minor league affiliates are on the cusp of winning theirs … on the same night.

Never before since becoming Dodgers affiliates have the Double-A Tulsa Drillers (in 2015) and the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (in 2011) been in a position to win the Texas League Championship and California League Championship respectively on the same night. But the stars have aligned themselves just right for this potentially historic event to occur.

The Drillers won the first two Texas League Championship Series games at home at ONEOK Field over the San Antonio Missions (Padres) in walk-off fashion, the latter on a wild pitch. That being said, if they hope to clinch the best-of-five series tonight (or any time over the next three nights), they will have to do so on the road at Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium in San Antonio, Texas.

The Quakes, on the other hand, won their first two California League Championship Series games on the road against the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks) at Recreation Ballpark in Visalia and are poised to win their second Cal League Champions title in three years in front of their home crowd at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga.

Ironically, when the Cody Bellinger / Alex Verdugo-led Quakes won the Cal League Championship against the San Jose Giants (Giants) in 2015, they did so on the road at San Jose Municipal Stadium, having won the first two games at home. The Drillers have not yet won a Texas League Championship since becoming the Dodgers Double-A affiliate but are in excellent position to do so under Drillers manager Scott Hennessey, who took over for previous manager Ryan Garko in July of 2017. Garko resigned to become head coaching at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

Taking irony a step further, Quakes manager Drew Saylor is in his third full season at the helm of the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate, having taken over for Bill Haselman, who was appointed as manager of the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City Dodgers after leading the Quakes to the Cal League Championship in 2015.

As most Dodger fans know by now (at least those who also follow their team’s minor league affiliates), the Dodgers recently renewed their affiliations with OKC, Tulsa, Rancho Cucamonga and with their Low Single-A affiliate Great Lakes Loons. And while the managerial roles for the respective minor league affiliates are a year-to-year thing, it’s hard to imagine that Haselman, Hennessey, Saylor and Loons manager Razor Shines will not be asked to return next season.

Top Dodgers pitching prospect Dustin May will take the mound for the Drillers on Friday night opposite Missions right-hander Jesse Scholtens. May, as you recall, was promoted to the Drillers from Rancho Cucamonga shortly after the mid-season break. He was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2016 MLB draft out of Northwest High School in Justin, Texas. He was a primary target of numerous trade talks prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline by several teams, but the Dodger made it know from the get go that the 21-year-old hard-throwing right-hander was untouchable; a very wise decision by the Dodgers brass.

Former Quake Dustin May will be on the mound for the Tulsa Drillers on Friday night, with hope of clinching the Drillers first-ever Texas League Championship since becoming a Dodgers affiliate in 2015.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Taking the mount for the Quakes on Friday night will be right-hander Isaac Anderson, who was selected by the Dodgers in the 40th round of the 2015 MLB draft after having decline being drafted in the 19th round of the 2014 draft in 2014 to attend Wichita State University. Anderson began the 2018 season with Rancho Cucamonga but received a call-up to Double-A Tulsa for a spot start in mid July, after which he returned to the Quakes. Anderson will be opposed by Visalia right-hander Connor Grey.

Former Driller (albeit for only one game) Isaac Anderson will try to bring home the Quakes second California League Championship title in three years on Friday night.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

For fans unable to attend what figures two very exciting games in person, you can catch all of the action of both games via MiLB’s TuneIn Radio. First pitch for the Drillers/Missions game is set for 7:05 pm CT (5:05 pm PT), and first pitch for the Quakes/Rawhide game set for 7:05 pm PT.

Let’s Go Drillers!

Let’s Go Quakes!