At about the one-month mark into the Advanced Single-A California League season, the defending Cal League Champion Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are atop the standings board with a 17-11 record. 

To begin the month of May, the Quakes wrapped a four-game series against the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres), winning three-of-four.

Game-1 of the series pitted Padres left-handed pitching prospect and MLB’s 14th-ranked prospect MacKenzie Gore against Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect and their 14th-ranked prospect Michael Grove in a preview of what Dodger fans could come to expect quite often in the future at Dodger Stadium and Petco Park.

The game was the Quakes fourth extra-inning contest of the young season, their first at home. The win gives them a 3-1 record in extras.

The Quakes wasted no time in game-2, taking an early lead in the first inning of the 10:35 am start. Designated hitter and the Dodgers 30th ranked outfield prospect Carlos Rincon crushed a ball over the left-center fence with two runners on to give the Quakes an early 3-0 against Storm starter Mason Thompson.

The Storm took two back off Rancho’s starter Victor Gonzalez, but the Quakes offense took the reins from there. Dodgers highly-touted number seven prospect Jeter Downs joined the hit parade with a home run to left with a runner on in the fourth, while second baseman Devin Mann reached on a fielding error that scored Downs in the sixth.

Quakes first baseman Nick Yarnall added to the lead with a solo home run to center in the seventh, putting the Quakes up 7-2. The Storm got one back in the eighth inning on a passed ball, but that would be their final run on the day. Mann drove in the Quakes final run on a sac fly to right. Rancho left-hander Austin Hamilton earned the 8-3 win, with Storm right-hander Mason Thompson suffering the loss.

In what has to be one of the longest starts of the year for a Quake pitcher, right-hander Edwin Uceta went six strong innings in game-3, eventually earning the win. He allowed only one run on three hits while walking none and striking out eight in his brilliant 6.0 innings of work. The one and only run allowed by Uceta came in the second inning as second baseman Esteury Ruiz hit a homer to left center. Quakes left fielder Drew Avans took the run right back – and more – with a two-run shot to center, his first round-tripper of the season.

Center fielder Donovan Casey added to the lead with an RBI base hit in the third, and Mann scored on a wild pitch in the fifth. Quakes designated hitter Brayan Morales drove in another run in the sixth, giving the Quakes a commanding 5-1 lead. But the Storm scored twice off of Max Gamboa in the seventh to make the score 5-3 and a bit less comfortable for the Rancho squad; but not for long. The Quakes added three more in the eighth. Downs drove in one on a liner to left and catcher Connor Wong drove in two more with his sixth double of the year, solidifying the Quakes 8-3 lead and eventual winning score, with Uceta earned the win, his first of the year.

For the final game of the series, the Quakes played as the Temblores de Rancho Cucamonga and the Storm played as the Cadejos de Lake Elsinore as part of MiLB’s Copa de la Diversión.

Game-4 saw the Storm take an early 2-0 lead in the second, as Lake Elsinore center fielder Allen Córdoba smacked a two-run shot to right off Quakes left-handed starter Bryan Warzek. Throughout the next two innings, Warzek got into some jams that he was able to work his way out of; however, he was removed in the fifth in favor of newcomer Kevin Malisheski, who tossed two scoreless innings before allowing a run to score on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh.

The real excitement began in the bottom of the inning as the Quakes finally got their bats going and put some runs on the board. Wong led off the inning with a single to left which was followed by a fielder’s choice error that allowed Casey to reach. Rincon then singled to left to load the bases for Mann, who ended up walking to bring home the Quakes first run of the night.

After a strikeout and pitching change later, newly returned Quakes catcher, Steve Berman drove in another run on a sac fly to right. With two runners on and two outs against him, Quakes second baseman Brandon Montgomery swung for the fences – and found them – on a 3-0 pitch from Storm reliever Evan Miller, driving the ball to left-center to record his first home run of the season. The three-run shot put the Quakes up 5-3 with just six outs to go.

However, Malisheski allowed a run to score in the top of the eighth. He was pulled with one out recorded and a runner on. Normally reliable Quakes closer Jordan Sheffield was brought in for the five-out save, but the very first batter he faced, Storm left fielder Robbie Podorsky, took him deep on his second pitch, flipping the score to 6-5 in favor of Lake Elsinore. Sheffield ended up with the loss and his first blown save of the season. Ironically, Miller also recorded a blown save, but picked up the win, his first of the year.

Through their first 28 games the Quakes lead the California League in:

• Stolen Bases – 56
• Saves – 11
• Fewest hits allowed – 200
• Individual Stolen Bases – 18 by Quakes outfielder Brayan Morales

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