After a rough trip to Lancaster and a two-day / three-game series in Lake Elsinore, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes returned home to take on the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) for a four-game series at LoanMart Field.

Game-1 

In game-1 on Thursday night, the Quakes took an early and dominant lead, starting with a two-run home run from center fielder Jeren Kendall in the second. First baseman Nick Yarnall quickly followed suit with his own solo home run and second baseman Devin Mann drove in another run on a sac fly in the third to put the Quake up 4-0.

Rancho starter, right hander Edwin Uceta, got off to a good start, but ran into some trouble in the fifth when 66ers number nine hitter, catcher and Chico, California native (and Dodgers 2013 30th-round draft pick) Ryan Scott, hit a two-run home run to left center.

The home run was Uceta’s only hiccup over his five innings. Rancho’s offense backed him, scoring five in the bottom of the inning thanks to an ill-timed fielding error, a well-timed triple, and two singles. The Quakes took a 9-2 lead into the sixth where Uceta was replaced by righty Melvin Jimenez who gave up a solo home run in the inning. Rancho once again took the run back a two-run homer from catcher Connor Wong and a bases loaded walk to Yarnall. 

Torri Hunter Jr., the 66ers center fielder, scored on a bases loaded walk in the eighth, but that would be all they could muster up. The Quakes won the game 12-4, giving Uceta his fourth win of the season. 

Game-2

Game-2 would be the only Quakes loss of the series, as Quakes starter Gerardo Carrillo gave up five runs (four earned) through 4.1 innings of work. The Quakes scored two in the bottom of the fifth on a Deacon Liput single to right, but it wouldn’t be enough to overcome the 5-2 lead the 66ers had, especially after they added on run number six against right hander Sven Schueller. 

Because the offense was unable to get the hits they needed like they had the night before, the Quakes fell 6-2 and Carrillo was saddled with his third loss of the year.

Game-3

The Quakes once again got off to an early lead in game-3, with Mann hitting a two-run home run to left/center in the first. 

In the third, shortstop Jeter Downs followed suit, putting the Quakes up 4-0 before Wong launched a solo shot to left. Center fielder Brayan Morales joined in on the fun in the sixth with an RBI single before first baseman Marcus Chiu drove in his own run with a single to center. 

Rancho starter, lefty Leo Crawford turned in his longest and most impressive start of the year going 6.2 innings, while allowing just four hits and striking out eight. Lefty Bryan Warzek finished the seventh inning for Crawford and pitched the eighth as well, giving up two runs, making the score 7-2 in favor of the Quakes. right-hander Connor Strain pitched a scoreless ninth to give Crawford the win, his first of the year. 

Game-4

Game-4 was just as exciting as the others as Rancho once again got off to a hot start, scoring four in the first inning with the aid of a 66ers on a Marcus Chiu single, another two-run blast from Kendall, and an RBI single to left by designated hitter Starling Heredia. 

Quake right-handed starter Michael Grove had a clean first inning, but the second inning proved troublesome for him. With two runners on, 66er’s Ryan Scott once again sent the ball deep to left / center to close the gap, making it 4-3. 

Righty Wills Montgomerie took over for Grove in the third and kept the 66ers off the board through six. But with two outs and the bases loaded, Montgomerie walked Scott, tying the game at four. Ironically, although Montgomerie gave up the game-tying run on a walk (of which he had four), he didn’t give up a hit while striking out six in his five innings of work. 

Quakes catcher Tre Todd apparently didn’t like the possibility of going to extra innings, so in the bottom of the sixth he hit a two-run home run, his first of the year. The home run made the difference, putting the Quakes up 6-4 for good. Left-hander Connor Mitchell pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in the eighth, with right hander Max Gamboa earning a four-out save, the first save of his professional career, to give Montgomerie his fifth win of the season.

With the series win, the 33-22 Quakes take a five-game lead over the second place 28-27 Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres).

The homestand continues on Tuesday, as the Quakes welcome the third place Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) to LoanMart Field. Tuesday is a recycle Tuesday, Wednesday is Bark in the Ballpark, and Thursday is Thirsty Thursday. Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes is slated to make a rehab appearance on Tuesday and Wednesday as he recovers from a left groin strain.

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(Editor’s note: Edwin Uceta was promoted to the Dodgers Double-A affiliate Tulsa Drillers on Sunday morning).

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Minor Leagues – Major Fun!

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