After another rough series against the Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) at home, the Quakes looked to take advantage of playing the last place Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) in a five-game series. They did just that, sweeping the 66ers and also clinching the California League South division first half title. 

Game-1

Right hander Kevin Malisheski made his first appearance since May 2. He went just two-thirds of an inning to start the game, giving up four hits and allowing two runs to score. Righty Max Gamboa took over to get the final out of the first.

A safety squeeze by Quakes second baseman Deacon Liput in the third cut the lead in half. Gamboa gave up an RBI single in the bottom of the inning and was relieved by lefty Bryan Warzek in the fourth. Warzek gave up an RBI double in the fifth, putting the 66ers up 4-1. 

Lefty Wes Helsabeck took over for Warzek with two outs in the fifth. He gave up a run in the sixth, but with one out and two on in the seventh, first baseman Marcus Chiu drove in a run with a single to second. Immediately after, left fielder Drew Avans cleared the bases with a three run home run. Catcher Connor Wong drove in the eventual game winner with a double in the eighth. Lefty Logan Salow came in for the bottom of the inning as well as the ninth. In his two innings, he struck out five and allowed just one base runner via a walk. 

Helsabeck earned his fourth win of the season while Salow earned his fourth save.

Game-2

Left fielder Donovan Casey and shortstop Jeter Downs got the Quakes off to a dominant start in the second, hitting solo and three-run home runs respectively, giving the team a 4-0 lead. 

Quakes starter Wills Montgomerie had a rough go of things in the third, giving up a solo home run to right fielder Ryan Vega and three straight singles that would score two more runs. He gave up another run in the fifth, tying the game at four and was removed in favor of left hander Austin Hamilton. A combination of four hits, an error, and a sac fly in the top of the sixth put the Quakes back on top, 7-4.

Designated hitter Starling Heredia and Downs both drove in a run a piece with singles while center fielder Jeren Kendall drove in another via the sac fly. A combination of Hamilton and righty Sven Schueller to close out the game was successful as Hamilton earned the win and Schueller earned his first save of the season. 

Game-3

Dodgers utility infielder Matt Beaty began a rehab assignment for a left hip flexor strain. He went 1-3 and helped record several outs, including all three in the first. Quakes broadcaster, Toph Buzzard tweeted, “Beaty has made two impressive digs at first base on the back end from the left side of the infield.” 

Quakes starter, right hander Josiah Gray gave up two runs in the second, both unearned thanks to an error. Avans and the rehabbing Beaty got the Quakes right back into the game in the third as both drove in a run with an RBI double by each. Liput laced a single to right to give the Quakes a 3-2 lead. Heredia added to the lead with a solo shot in the top of the fourth. 

Gray gave up another run in the bottom of the inning but cruised through the rest of the inning as well as the fifth. He would eventually earn the win after giving up seven hits, the three runs, and striking out nine. Righty Connor Strain took over for Gray in the sixth and earned a hold, as did lefty Austin Drury. Drury threw two innings in his Quakes debut; walking three and striking out two.

Avans added on another run in the ninth with a sacrifice bunt and lefty Connor Mitchell shut down the 66ers in the bottom of the inning to keep the Quakes 5-3 win intact. 

Game-4 

An early RBI single from Angels highly-touted outfield prospect Torii Hunter Jr. got the 66ers on the board first against righty Andre Jackson, but the Quakes took it back in the second. Catcher Jordan Procyshen, who was the victim of the trickle down effect when Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes returned from the Injured List and Will Smith optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and so on, and so on, drove in two with an RBI double. Kendall hit a home run in the third to put the Quakes up 3-1. 

Although Hunter Jr. drove in another run in the third to put Inland Empire within one, Casey cracked the game open in the fourth, driving in two with a base hit which was followed by an RBI single from Liput. Jackson gave up a home run in the bottom of the inning, cutting the Quakes lead in half. 

Righty Melvin Jimenez took over for Jackson with two outs in the fifth. He gave up a two run homer in the sixth, to pull the 66ers within one. But Kendall scored in the ninth on an error to put a little more distance between Rancho and Inland Empire. 

Salow came in for a six out save, only issuing a walk, but keeping the score intact to secure the Quakes the 7-5 win. Jimenez earned the win, his first of the season, with Salow earning his fifth save.

Game-5

Quakes red hot third baseman Devin Mann hit a home run on the very first pitch of the game to put Rancho up 1-0. It was the Mann’s 11th round-tripper of the season tying him with Connor Wong for the team lead … but not for long. After Downs drove in Beaty with an RBI single in the third, Wong took back the home run lead (12) with a long ball in the fourth. Casey then hit a two-run home run and gave the Quakes a comfortable 5-0 lead.

…or so they thought.

Quakes right-hander Gerardo Carrillo got through the first four innings without giving up a run but allowed a run to score on a wild pitch in the fifth. He was replaced by Warzek after he was unable to record an out. Carrillo was charged with a run that scored on a sacrifice fly. Schueller replaced Warzek in the sixth and a run scored on an error by Mann. Helsabeck took over in the seventh and gave up two runs, the second to tie the game at five. However, a solo home run from Jeren Kendall and an RBI double from Wong put the Quakes back on top in the ninth.

Gamboa, who had come in for part of the eighth, pitched a scoreless ninth to give Rancho the 7-5 win. He earned the win, his third of the season.

While all of this was going on, the Cal League South third place Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) knocked off the second place Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres). By doing so, the Storm were eliminated as potential first-half winners, with the Quakes taking that title thereby guaranteeing themselves a postseason berth. Although the Quakes appreciated the assist, by taking all five from Inland Empire, they won the first-half outright.

The Quakes return home Wednesday for a five-game series against the Storm that will feature bark in the park, thirsty Thursday, $1 family feast night, fireworks, and a team card giveaway. 

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

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