As it is, rain is a rare occurrence in sunny Southern California, but it’s even more rare during baseball season. However, the rain got the best of the three-game series between the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks) this week.

Game-1 was played as expected with no issues, however, game-2 of the series was postponed about three hours before its 7:05 scheduled start time due to rain in the Rancho Cucamonga area, with a doubleheader set for Thursday late afternoon and evening.

Unfortunately, the rain once again washed away the hopes of California League fans hoping to see a twin-bill at LoanMart field, the first since 2015. 

Although the field was covered, enough damage was done to the infield that it was deemed unsafe and the games were postponed once again, but more on that later.

The Rawhide had the best record in the Cal League coming into the series at 29-13, while the Quakes sat at 26-18 and looked to even things up a bit. They got one game closer with a 5-1 win in the series opener.

Quakes right-hander Michael Grove got the start and was rewarded fairly quickly with some run support. In the bottom of the second inning, Quakes second baseman Devin Mann sent a solo shot over the wall in left-center to give the Quakes a 1-0 lead.

Grove, who is on a strict pitch count, was removed with two outs in the third, having given up just one hit on 51 pitches (27 strikes). Left-hander Wes Helsabeck replaced Grove and got the final out of the inning, as the pair struck out the side. 

Helsabeck gave up the game-tying run in the fourth, but the Quakes would undo the damage in the bottom of the inning. With two outs and a runner on first, left fielder Drew Avans blasted a two-run homer to right-center to put the Quakes ahead for good at 3-1. Quakes right-hander Melvin Jimenez, who was recently promoted from the Single-A Great Lakes Loons, took over for Helsabeck in the fifth and promptly struck out the side. He breezed through the sixth as well, giving up just one hit to earn a hold. 

Right-hander Ryan Moseley relieved Jimenez in the seventh, allowing a walk while striking out one to also add a hold to his résumé. For good measure, Quakes first baseman Nick Yarnall drove in two more runs on a triple to right in the bottom of the seventh, making the score 5-1 in favor of Rancho. Quakes lefty Logan Salow came in for the final six outs of the game, striking out the side in the eighth and pitching a 1-2-3 ninth to give the Quakes the win.

Although Grove had the lead when he was removed from the game, he did not go the requisite five innings to qualify for the win, which went to Helsabeck instead, his third of the season. With the win, the Quakes improved their record to a Cal League South best 27-18.

Quakes Rainy Day Facts

• In addition to the Quakes being rained out on May 22, two other games in the Cal League were also rained out. This also happened on May 18 and 19, when the three games being played in Northern California locations were also rained out.
• The last time the Quakes played a doubleheader, current Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect Mitchell White and former Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect Alex Hermeling pitched a combined seven-inning no-hitter against the Stockton Ports in game-1 of the twin bill. it was the first no-no in Quakes history. 
• The Quakes last played a home doubleheader in 2015. The games were against the now defunct Bakersfield Blaze, then the Seattle Mariners Advanced Single-A affiliate), who played their home games at historic Sam Lynn Ballpark, now home to the Pecos League Bakersfield Train Robbers.

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