Coming off of three straight series sweeps, the Quakes looked to repeat their success and extend their nine-game winning streak even further as the last place San Jose Giants (Giants) came to town. Although the first game of the series didn’t go as expected, the last one made up for it in near spectacular fashion. 

Game-1

The Giants took an early 2-0 lead against Rancho starter Austin Hamilton in the first, but center fielder Jeren Kendall hit a solo home run in the bottom of the inning to get within one run. Designated hitter Niko Hulsizer smashed a home run in the bottom of the second to retie the game. 

In the fifth, Hamilton gave up another run, this time a solo home run that gave the Giants back the lead. Hamilton was immediately removed in favor of Bryan Warzek. Warzek went 1.1 and struck out two. He was replaced in the seventh by Austin Drury who gave up a run in the seventh and was charged with another in the eighth after Brett de Geus allowed an inherited runner to score. 

De Geus had a 1-2-3 inning in the ninth, but a lack of offense from the Quakes caused them to fall 5-2 in the series opener, ending a nine game win streak. 

Game-2

Gerardo Carrillo got the start for Rancho, his first of the second half, coming off the injured list the day of. He went two innings and gave up one hit, making way for Wills Montgomerie. Montgomerie gave up a run in the third, but the Quakes rallied back, scoring three in the bottom of the inning. Kendall drove in two runs with a base hit and in his first game back off the injured list, designated hitter Jeter Downs drove in another run on a sac fly. Montgomerie gave up a run in the fifth and sixth, respectively, the latter of which tied the game at three. 

In the sixth, first baseman Marcus Chiu walked with the bases loaded to break the tie, but a solo home run off Montgomerie in the seventh tied the game once again.

The Quakes broke things open in the bottom of the inning as a triple from catcher Connor Wong drove in two runs and a base hit by shortstop Deacon Liput drove in run number seven of the night. Connor Strain took over for Montgomerie in the eighth inning. Montgomerie gave up nine hits overall and allowed four runs to score, but he struck out six over his five innings of work.

Right fielder Donovan Casey put the finishing touches on the evening, hitting an RBI single to score the eighth run of the game. Strain gave up one hit in his inning of work and handed the ball over to Darien Nunez to finish the game. Nunez gave up two hits in the ninth, but kept the 8-4 score in hand, earning Montgomerie his eighth win of the season.

Game-3

In the rubber game of the series, Quakes ace Josiah Gray took to the hill throwing undoubtedly his best start of the year. The offense aided him early as Hulsizer stole home on a delayed double steal to score the first run of the night. Kendall drove in a run in the second to give the Quakes 2-0 lead. A Chiu ground out scored another run and the final run of the game scored in the fourth when right fielder Brayan Morales tripled to left to score Chiu.

In the seventh inning, Gray gave up a single to the lead-off batter to break up his no hitter. He was removed to start the eighth after giving up just the one hit in his seven incredible innings of work. He gave up just one walk and struck out seven. This was Gray’s second no-no attempt this season, as he threw five hitless innings for the Great Lakes Loons, the Dodgers Class A Midwest League affiliate, in April. 

Wes Helsabeck took over in the eighth and gave up a single to the first batter he faced but recorded three straight outs to leave the runner stranded. Max Gamboa finished up the game with a 1-2-3 inning to give Gray his seventh win of the season.

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Coming Up

The Quakes continue their homestand on Saturday, taking on the Stockton Ports (Athletics) in a three-game series that will feature Magic and Muggles night, the Quakes take on Harry Potter, a family fueled Sunday game where the 2019 team photo will be given out and kids can run the bases after the game, and a relaxing Monday night finale.

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