April 8th, 2019 at 9:00 am 
by Lauren Jennings After suffering an opening night loss on Thursday, April 4, 2019, the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes battled back to earn the opening series win over the Stockton Ports, the Advanced Single-A affiliate of the Oakland A’s.
(Image courtesy of VisitStockton.org)
Game one of the four game series got off to a rough start for the Quakes. Through 3.1 innings, Stockton right-handers Chris Bassitt and Daulton Jefferies had a perfect game going.
On the other hand, Quakes lefty Leo Crawford got off to a very rocky start, giving up four runs on four hits in the first inning before settling down in the second inning. He was removed after two innings by new Quakes manager Mark Kertenian in favor of left-hander Victor Gonzalez.
Jefferies gave up a hit to new – and popular – Dodgers farmhand Jeter Downs in the fourth, but that was all that he allowed over his three outstanding innings of work, while striking out four and earning the Opening Night win for Stockton.
Gonzalez threw three nearly perfect innings of relief behind Crawford, allowing only a walk while recording five strikeouts. Quakes right-hander Sven Schueller replaced him in the sixth, allowing only one hit over two innings.
Ports left-hander Jared Poché came in to relieve Jefferies in the seventh, where he gave up just the second hit of the night to Quakes shortstop Deacon Liput. Poché was charged with the Quakes one and only run in the eighth inning on an error by Stockton shortstop Nick Allen.
Quakes left-hander Wes Helsabeck replaced Schueller for the eighth, allowing one hit and walking two.
Ports right-handed closer Trey Cochran-Gill sealed the deal for Stockton with one out in the ninth after Poché allowed the first two batters to reach before recording a strikeout. Stockton took game one 4-1.
Stockton once again took an early lead in game two of the series, scoring two in the first off of Quakes right-hander Edwin Uceta.
However, Rancho quickly fought back, scoring two in the top of the second courtesy of an RBI single by catcher Steve Berman.
On the night, Uceta allowed just three runs over five innings while walking just one batter and striking out eight.
The Quakes tied the game at three in the sixth thanks to a wild pitch that allowed Liput to score. They added on a run in the seventh and that would be all they would need to get their first win of the season.
The bullpen in game two was lights out, as both left-hander Logan Salow, who earned the win, and right-hander Ryan Moseley, who earned the save, did not allow a hit over four innings. The Quakes won by a final score of 4-3.
In game three, the Ports were again on the board first against Quakes left-handed starter Bryan Warzek. Over 3.1, Warzek gave up two runs on four hits while striking out five.
The Quakes backed Warzek in the fourth, scoring two runs to tie the game. Second baseman Connor Wong gave the Quakes the lead in the eighth with the team’s first home run of the year, and in the ninth first baseman Marcus Chiu recorded the second.
Chiu’s solo shot would end up being the game winner, as Stockton scored one in the bottom of the ninth, making the final score 4-3, once again in favor of the Quakes.
In the fourth and final game of the 2019 opening series, Quakes starting pitching allowed Stockton to score first yet again. In the first, Rancho right-hander Gerardo Carrillo gave up the only two runs for the Ports.
The Quakes quickly got on the board in the second, scoring on a bases loaded walk with no outs. The real fun came in the fourth though as the Quakes drove in four runs.
Two runs came in on a home run by Quakes right fielder Donovan Casey. Shortstop Brandon Montgomery drove in run number four of the day for the Quakes on an RBI ground out, and second baseman Jeter Downs drove in the fifth and final run on an RBI double.
The Quakes leave Stockton having won 5-2 on Sunday and take a 3-1 record down to central California, where they will take on the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks) for a three game series. The last time they played the Rawhide was in the 2018 California League Championship Series to be crowned 2018 Cal Leagur Champions.
The Quakes 2019 home opener will be on Thursday, April 11 at LoanMart Field against their perennial rivals – the Lancaster JetHawks (Colorado Rockies) – who they last faced in the 2018 California League South Division Finals.
Quakes baseball – Minor Leagues, Major fun!
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I see the Quakes got off to a surprisingly good start after storming their way to the Cal-League title last year. Too bad about Crawford getting lit up in the season opener, though. Kinda expected him to be with AA Tulsa to begin the season instead, not sure why he’s repeating High-A. Glad to see Jeter Downs, Marcus Chiu, Michael Grove, and Gerardo Carrillo (my sleeper pick this season) added to the Quakes roster. Those four should be fun to watch on that club in the meantime.
Other players on the roster like Donovan Casey and Carlos Rincon I doubt will spend the whole season down at that level. I see those two moving up to Tulsa at some point, especially Casey if he has no further injury-related setbacks. Young outfielder’s got some interesting tools at his disposal and seems to be finally making good on ’em right now unlike fellow teammate/OF prospect Jeren Kendall who continues to be a perpetual “work-in-progress”. That said, looking forward to last year’s 2nd round pick Grove finally making his pro debut for the Quakes later today…