April 30th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka For the third time this season, the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes won a game in extra innings, this time by a score of 3-2 over the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) utilizing Minor League Baseball’s new system of beginning each extra frame with a runner automatically placed on second base. The new rule is designed to increase the so-called “pace of play,” although that is certainly open to debate. The Quakes are now 3-0 in extra-inning play under the new system.
After escaping the top half of the 10th on an absolutely outstanding throw to the plate by Quakes center fielder Donovan Casey to nail Storm catcher Jalen Washington, the Quakes began their half of the 10th with Casey on second base, having made the final out in the bottom of the ninth. Storm right-handed reliever Evan Miller walked Quakes right fielder Carlos Rincon to put runners on first and second, after which catcher Connor Wong hit a fly ball to center field that was deep enough to allow both Casey and Rincon to tag up and advance to third and second respectively.
With no outs and the winning run now 90 feet away, Quakes second baseman Devin Mann stepped up to the plate. Mann, who has four home runs on the season (one behind Wong’s team-leading five), absolutely smoked a hard grounder on the very first pitch he saw to Storm third baseman Kelvin Melean with Casey breaking for home. But whether obscured by Casey or otherwise, Melean’s throw to the plate was off line, allowing Casey to score the game-winning run.
Quakes right-hander Jordan Sheffield (2-0) was credited with the win, with Storm right-hander Miller (0-1) tagged with the loss.
The extra-inning contest thwarted an absolutely brilliant pitching performance by Storm left-hander MacKenzie Gore, who had allowed only one run on three hits with one walk and a Storm season-high 11 strikeouts in his 4.1 innings of work (that’s not a typo). If you are unfamiliar with the name MacKenzie Gore, you won’t be for long. He was the third overall pick in the 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Whiteville High School in Whiteville, North Carolina and will undoubtedly break into the Padres major league starting rotation sooner rather than later. On Monday night, the 20-year-old Wilmington, NC native consistently hit 95-MPH with his fastball and once hit 96.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
With the win the Quakes are now 15-10 (.600) on the season and now lead the Lancaster JetHawks, Inland Empire 66ers, and Lake Elsinore Storm by two, three, and four games respectively in the highly-competitive Cal League South Division.
As they say: “Minor Leagues, Major Fun!”
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Tell you what, that Gore kid the Padres got in their system is the REAL DEAL! He won’t be hanging around the Cal League for much longer after what he did against Rancho last night. Just what the Dodgers needed, yet ANOTHER future ace to give them problems in their own division the moment he finally makes the show (lol). Wouldn’t have it any other way, though!
Another thing that kind of went unnoticed in that thrilling Quakes victory last night was the performance of 23-year old Quakes lefty/2017 6th rounder Wills Montgomerie coming out of the pen: 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R (earned), 2 BB, 9 K, 87 pitches (59 strikes). Ever since he was moved to the bullpen this season, the hard-throwing Montgomerie has quickly turned a corner in his development and now looks like another potential bullpen weapon for the Dodgers to rely on within the next year or two. Only thing that was keeping him back was his command, but now that’s looking like it’s no longer an issue for him in his current relief role with that 1.08 WHIP through 21.1 IP so far for Rancho. Good stuff happening on the farm of late, indeed…