The Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes may have lost their first game of the season, almost being shutout in fact, but they have since bounced back in superb fashion. 

After an Opening Night loss to the Stockton Ports (Oakland Athletics), they recovered by taking the remaining three games in the series before heading down to central California where they took on the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks). 

The last time the Quakes played Visalia, they were fighting for the 2018 California League crown. They played two games in Visalia in the best-of-five Championship Series, narrowly winning game-one 5-4, and easily defeating them in game-two 9-3. 

All they needed was one more win out of three possible games at home to become California League Champions for the second time in four years. They beat the Rawhide in the first game at LoanMart Field fairy easily, taking an early 4-0 lead and eventually winning the game – and the 2018 Cal League Championship – by a dominating score of 9-1.

This year, the three-game series got off to a familiar start.

In game-one, the Quakes and Rawhide were both kept off the board through the first three innings, however, the Quakes scored a run courtesy of some heads-up base running. 

Rancho’s starting pitcher Michael Grove held the Rawhide to just one hit over three innings, while relief pitcher, Wills Montgomerie continued the trend, allowing just one hit as well over 2.1 innings. 

In the sixth, the Quakes scored again thanks to an RBI triple from designated hitter Donovan Casey and a sacrifice fly by first baseman Devin Mann.

Victor Gonzalez came in to relieve Montgomerie and eventually earned the win after going 2.1 innings without allowing a hit, while striking out five. 

Devin Hemmerich came in for the eighth and gave up the only run Visalia would score. 

In the ninth, the Quakes added one more run for good measure. Center fielder Jeren Kendall walked to begin the inning and was driven in by catcher Connor Wong, who hit his first double of the season in the eventual 4-1 Quakes win.

Leo Crawford started game two of the three-game series, giving up a run in the first inning on a rather bizarre play. With one out in the inning and the bases loaded, a ball was popped up in the infield, prompting the umpires to call the infield fly rule. Runners can advance at their own peril, which they did, allowing the run to score, but it also gave the Quakes the opportunity to record a double play.  

The Quakes got the run back – and then some – in the third inning, courtesy of a Visalia error and later, a two-run home run by Mann. Visalia got two runs back in the bottom of the inning to tie the score 3-3. 

Visalia continued to add on to their lead in the fourth, chasing Crawford and scoring five runs in the process. Six runs were charged to Crawford, while two more unearned runs were charged to reliever Wes Helsabeck. Both went three innings. 

The Quakes scored once more in the fifth, but the damage had already been done, as the Rawhide had a commanding 8-4 lead. Rancho scored one last time in the ninth on an RBI double by Brandon Montgomery, his first hit of the season, but fell to the Rawhide 8-5. 

The third and final game of the series was an 11 AM on Wednesday morning that needed a little more than the regular nine innings – and about four hours – to complete. 

Wong got the game off to a good start, hitting a solo home run in the top of the first inning to give the Quakes an early 1-0 lead. Starter Edwin Uceta threw four innings of one-hit baseball, walking three and striking out four. 

The Rawhide answered back to Wong’s homer, although much later in the fifth inning, scoring two off of Quakes reliever Max Gamboa. 

Rancho wasn’t going to give up that easy though, as first baseman Marcus Chiu took advantage of not one, not two, but three wild pitches to score the game-tying (2-2) run in the top of the ninth inning.

As with all Minor League games this season, extra innings now start with a base runner automatically on second base. Because Kendall was the Quakes last out in the ninth, he was placed at second to start the tenth.

Kendall scored on an RBI ground out and then the Quakes put on a hitting clinic. Chiu and designated hitter Carlos Rincon hit back-to-back RBI singles, making the score 5-2. 

Montgomery flew out to center, scoring another run and setting the stage for Mann, who hit a two-run home run, making it an 8-2 ballgame. The Quakes added two more singles in the inning, but didn’t score anymore runs. 

Visalia answered back with two more runs in the bottom of the 10th inning, but couldn’t overcome the Quakes 10th-inning hit parade, to give the Rancho squad their first extra-inning win of the season and their second consecutive series win.

The Quakes Home Opener is Thursday evening, April 11, at LoanMart Field, when they take on the Lancaster Jethawks. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM, but Quakes fans will want to arrive much earlier to take in the extravagant pre-game activities and ceremony. The weekend is loaded with great promotions, including two nights of postgame fireworks, a magnetic schedule giveaway, $1 Family Feast Night (Pepsi products, hot dogs, and ice cream sandwiches all available for just one dollar), a jersey auction, a jersey giveaway, a youth baseball clinic, and Kids Run the Bases.

Minor Leagues … Major Fun!

Go Quakes!

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