The Quakes looked to not only bounce back from a rough trip to Lancaster (Rockies) but also from their most recent series against the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres), which they would have won were it not for having to forfeit a game due to a technicality. They have, overall, had good luck against the Storm this season and were looking to continue that trend in a three-game series this week.

Game-1 

Shortstop Jeter Downs drove in a run to get the game started for Rancho, but Lake Elsinore took it back off of Quakes starter Leo Crawford. But Quakes newcomer (and new fan-favorite) Designated Hitter Niko Hulsizer took the lead right back with an RBI single in the second, and right fielder Donovan Casey drove in a run with a single to center in the third.

Crawford hit a rough patch in the bottom of the inning, giving up three straight singles before recording an out. The first out was a sacrifice fly that tied the game at three. The fourth single of the inning allowed the Storm to take their first lead of the game, but a double play quickly ended the inning. Catcher Connor Wong drove in a run in the top of the fourth for the fourth lead change of the game. 

In the fifth, Casey hit a double to drive in his second run of the night and Hulsizer hit a three-run home run, his first with the Quakes and 16th on the year, putting Rancho up 8-4. Crawford was replaced by Connor Strain in the eighth. Strain had a 1-2-3 inning, recording a strikeout. Wong drove in two more for insurance with a triple in the top of the ninth and Austin Drury came in for Strain to close out the game. Drury gave up four singles and two wild pitches, resulting in two runs scoring, but ultimately, the Quakes held on for the 10-6 win.

All but one Quake had at least one hit on the night and six players stole a base, as Crawford received the win.

Game-2

Rancho scored all three of their runs in the third inning thanks to a three-run home run from designated hitter Jeren Kendall. In addition to his home run, he also hit a triple in the seventh. Quake starter Austin Hamilton kept the Storm quiet through the first three innings, but gave up a solo home run to start the fourth. Another run scored on a ground out to put Elsinore within one. They did tie the game in fifth with a sac fly and it would remain that way into extra innings, as Bryan Warzek, Logan Salow and Connor Mitchell kept the Storm off the board through the next six innings. 

Max Gamboa took over in the 12th. With a runner on third, Gamboa’s fifth wild pitch in his last three games resulted in a 4-3 walk-off loss for the Quakes.

Game-3

Quakes starter and Dodgers 2018 second-round draft pick Michael Grove had one of his best starts since April, going two innings and giving up just one hit while striking out three. Wills Montgomerie took over in the third and gave up a run on an RBI single. In the fourth, he gave up a triple and an inside-the-park home run putting the Storm up 3-0. He gave up run number four in the fifth on an RBI double and the fifth and final Storm run was scored in the sixth. First baseman Marcus Chiu hit a double in the seventh, accounting for the Quakes only extra base hit of the game.

Montgomerie was removed with two outs in the bottom of the inning in favor of Sven Schueller, who threw a clean inning and a third, but the damage and already been done. The Quakes went down in order in the ninth, dropping the game 5-0 and the series for the third time in a row. It was also the first time Rancho Cucamonga had been shutout since May 19.

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The Quakes return home on Thursday hoping to turn things around, as they open a four-game series against Lancaster for the second time in the second half. The homestand features Thirsty Thursday, a Cody Bellinger bobblehead on Friday night, a Quakes hat giveaway and fireworks on Saturday night, and kids run the bases on Sunday.

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