The Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes overcame early leads and late rallies in two-of-three games against the Modesto Nuts (Mariners) to win their fifth series of the 2019 season. 

In game-1, the Nuts jumped out to an early lead, taking advantage of two first inning errors committed by third baseman Marcus Chiu. Within that inning, they were able to score four runs, all of which came with two outs. 

Quakes starter Edwin Uceta was charged with all four, however, because of the errors, none of the runs were earned, keep Uceta’s ERA at 2.53. He ended up pitching for 4.1 innings, giving up six hits, walking four, and striking out six. 

The offense was quick to get two of the runs back in the second on RBI base hits from left fielder Drew Avans and designated hitter Donovan Casey. 

They tacked on five more in the fourth inning, chasing Modesto’s starter, Ian McKinney who would eventually earn the loss. 

Casey knocked another RBI base hit while catcher Connor Wong, the king of extra base hits, drove in two with a double to left. First baseman Nick Yarnall tacked on two more with a triple to former Quake Ariel Sandoval in right. 

The five-run inning gave the Quakes a 7-4 lead. 

Max Gamboa took over for Uceta in the fifth with one out, keeping the Nuts off the board for the next 1.2 innings. He would go on to earn the win.

Ryan Moseley came in for the seventh and eighth, striking out two and earning his second hold after the offense gave him a little more breathing room, scoring a run in the top of the eighth.

Rancho closer Jordan Sheffield came in for the ninth, giving up two runs, but preserving the win.

Yarnall ended the night a home run shy of the cycle. 

Game-2 saw the Quakes take an early lead against Modesto, as second baseman Davin Mann drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to Sandoval. 

That was all Quakes starter Bryan Warzek would need as he gave up just three hits over four innings, walking three and striking out five. 

Wes Helsabeck came in to relieve Warzek in the fifth. He kept up Warzek’s pace over the next two innings, walking two and striking out three, not giving up a run or hit in the process. 

Helsabeck earned the win, his second of the season as Warzek didn’t go the requisite five to earn it himself. 

Rancho added on two more on a Wong home run in the sixth against Modesto’s starter Austin Hutchison who exited with two outs in the sixth. He took the loss.

In the seventh, the Quakes scored once more on an error, an insurance run that would prove to the difference maker. 

Logan Salow entered in the bottom of the inning, having a clean seventh, but the next inning would be his rockiest outing of the season so far. 

Salow gave up three runs, the first on a bases loaded walk that ended up triggering his removal from the game. Austin Hamilton came in to finish up the inning, allowing two runs to score, which were charged to Salow, putting Modesto within one. 

Hamilton quickly shut the Nuts down in the bottom of the ninth, earning the save and keeping the Quakes 4-3 win intact. 

Game-3 took its toll on the Quakes as they left nine runners on base and went 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. 

That has been a problem with the team throughout the season, despite their aggressive base running. Base runners can only do so much though as they generally need help from the batters to advance them.

Gerardo Carrillo got the start for the final game of the series, going 3.2 and giving up four runs on three hits, while walking and striking out four. Carrillo ended up earning the loss after the Quakes offense was unable to come alive throughout the game, recording only five hits.

The number five batter Chiu hit the one and only extra base hit of the game as well as a single. The other three hits came from the four, six, and seven batters. 

Connor Mitchell and Gamboa gave up three more runs between the fifth and sixth innings, giving the Nuts a commanding 7-0 lead. 

The Modesto bullpen kept the Quakes quiet, handing them their first shutout of the season. 

The team heads home to LoanMart Field for a four-game homestead against the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) starting on Monday. The series includes a 10:35 am start time on Tuesday, Bark in the Ballpark on Wednesday, and Thirsty Thursday to close out the week and homestand. 

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