As I’ve said before, The Hangar, home to the Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies), is a very hitter-friendly ballpark that can lead to some weird games and epic – often unfortunate – comebacks. 

The Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes headed out to said Hangar for a three-game series after their homestand against the Rawhide was mostly washed out. As the All-Star break continues to get closer and closer, it’s becoming more imperative that the Quakes win against their tougher opponents to separate themselves in the standings in hopes of a first-half title and an automatic playoff berth. 

Although game-1 of the series didn’t have the bizarre scores of previous games in Lancaster, it did have the usual back and forth that comes with playing there. The JetHawks started off the game scoring three runs in the first off of Rancho right-hander Josiah Gray. A fielding error got things started and four hits in a row set the pace for the JetHawks with an early 3-0 lead.

The Quakes offense was quick to give Gray a clean slate as they scored three runs in the second to tie it up. A bases-loaded walk started the comeback and was quickly followed by a second bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly from designated hitter Drew Avans. Lancaster retook the lead in the third, but the Quakes tied it again in the fifth, as right fielder Donovan Casey drove in catcher Connor Wong with a double to center. They added on two more runs in the sixth, as Avans drove in third baseman Devin Mann. Highly touted shortstop Jeter Downs reached on a fielding error that allowed a run to score, putting the Quakes up 6-4.

Things were lining up for Gray to finally get his first win in a Quakes uniform (in three starts), having gone six innings and exiting with a 6-4 lead. But much like their parent team, Rancho’s bullpen had its troubles in the eighth inning. Left-hander Connor Mitchell pitched a scoreless seventh and then gave way to righty Sven Schueller, who promptly gave up three straight hits that allowed two runs to score. A wild pitch allowed another run to score to give the JetHawks a 7-6 lead, a blown save for Schueller, and a no-decision for Gray. Lancaster second baseman Taylor Snyder then hit a solo shot for insurance. This time the Quakes were unable to rally, dropping game-1 by a final score of 8-6.

Game-2 saw the Quakes get on the board in the fourth with a Casey homer and an RBI double from left fielder Starling Heredia. Quakes right-hander Edwin Uceta, gave up a solo shot in the bottom of the inning and an RBI double in the sixth, but the offense backed him in the seventh, when Mann hit a sac fly and Heredia hit his second double of the night to put Rancho up 4-2. Quakes right-hander Connor Strain gave up a run in the eighth, but lefty Logan Salow was able to finish out the game, keeping it 4-3 to earn his second save, with Uceta picking up his team-best third win (against no losses) among all Quakes starters.

Game-3 was the real heartbreaker of the series as no matter how many times the Quakes were able to rally back, it wasn’t enough in the end. The Quakes scored three in the second thanks to a leadoff double from Casey and three run-scoring singles. Lancaster bounced right back in their half of the third, scoring three of their own off of Quakes right-hander Gerardo Carrillo. He would give up three more in the fourth, ending his afternoon. 

Rancho jumped back in again, scoring three in the fifth (you’ll notice there’s a pattern forming here…). Four straight base hits brought the Quakes right back into the game, knotting everything up at six. However, the ‘Heart attack ‘Hawks’ (they have good reason for being called that) took all of the runs right back on three solo home runs off of Quakes lefty Leo Crawford. But once again the Quakes rallied back, scoring three in the ninth thanks to a fielding error, an RBI single, and two RBI doubles. Right-hander Max Gamboa kept the JetHawks quiet in the ninth, sending the game to extra innings which, of course, begin with an automatic runner on second base.

Both teams failed to score in the tenth, so the game headed to the eleventh inning. The Quakes scored three runs with two outs to put them up 12-9 and by all appearances were going to take two of three from their fiercest rivals.

It didn’t happen because, you know, it’s Lancaster.

A three-run home run by JetHawks first baseman Luis Castro, his third of the day (aided by Lancaster’s infamous 40+ mph winds) off of lefty Connor Mitchell tied the game at 12. The big blow, however, was a solo home run two batters later by JetHawks left fielder Todd Czinege to give Lancaster the heartbreaking 13-12 walk-off win. 

The Quakes get a much needed day off on Monday, but will dive right back into the thick of things with a double header on Tuesday against the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) at The Diamond in Lake Elsinore, with the first game scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm PT.

As they say: ‘Minor Leagues, Major Fun!’

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