After two rough series against their most dangerous opponents to start the month of August, the Quakes have rebounded nicely, taking four of their last five series. The most recent series win came this past weekend against the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks), who they swept in last year’s California League Championship Series to win their third overall title. 

This year, it looks like that matchup could happen once again, as the Quakes and Rawhide have been atop of their respective divisions throughout the 2019 season.

Despite Rancho losing several of its best players to trades and, more recently, promotions to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers, the team showed this weekend that they still have plenty of fight left in them for the upcoming playoffs. 

Game-1 

Quakes starter Wills Montgomerie ran into trouble early on in Friday’s series opener at LoanMart Field when he hit the first batter he faced and giving up two runs in the top of the first. However, the most memorable part of the inning was a run-saving double pickoff/caught stealing maneuver by the Quakes defense to end the inning and the threat. 

In the bottom of the third, the Quakes had yet another offensive explosion, something they did in their previous series against the Modesto Nuts (Mariners). With one out, center fielder Jeren Kendall drove a triple to right-center and scored on a fielding error by Visalia’s right fielder – often referred to as a ‘Little League home run.’

Rehabbing Dodger Chris Taylor, who drew a walk in his first plate appearance in the bottom of the first, reached once again, this time with a looping single to center. He was immediately driven in on a double by Quakes shortstop and nearby El Monte, CA native Jacob Amaya. First baseman Miguel Vargas followed suit with his own two-bagger to drive in Amaya, giving the Quakes a 3-2 lead. Second baseman Deacon Liput drove in yet another run with a bunt base hit, and right fielder Eric Peterson drove in still another with a base hit to left.

Sven Schueller came in for Montgomerie in the top of the fourth. Montgomerie had given up two runs on three hits while walking four and striking out one over his three innings of work. Schueller allowed three hits over his two innings of work while striking out three before Austin Drury took the reins in the top of the sixth. Drury issued a walk and back-to-back base hits to put the Rawhide back within two. A bases-loaded single tied the game at five and brought an end to the night for Drury. Brett de Geus took over with two outs, inheriting two base runners from Drury. de Geus went three innings, giving up four base hits but kept the game tied at four.

Guillermo Zuniga took over to get the final out of the ninth and continued into the tenth, as both teams failed to get a game-winning run across in regulation. Zuniga gave up a base hit to the first batter he faced in the tenth, putting runners on the corners thanks to the new ‘automatic runner at second’ rule to start extra innings in the minors. He struck out the next batter and intentionally walked the next one to load the bases, but unintentionally walked the next to break the tie and put the Rawhide up 6-5. A wild pitch allowed another run to score, but a double play eventually ended the inning. 

Vargas led off the bottom of the tenth, flying out to center to move (automatic runner) Amaya to third. Catcher Hunter Feduccia drove in Amaya with a groundout to get the Quakes to within one. However, the Quakes were unable to drive home any additional runs, falling to Visalia 7-6. Zuniga was tagged with the loss, his second of the year. 

Game-2

The Rawhide once again took an early 2-0 lead, this time against Jose Martinez, who was making his first start with the Quakes. Martinez had only one other appearance for Rancho this season but in relief. Taylor grounded out to drive in a run in the third, cutting Visalia’s lead in half. Max Gamboa took over for Martinez in the sixth. Martinez went five innings, giving up the two runs on four hits while striking out eight, tying his career high. Gamboa gave up two runs in the sixth but had a 1-2-3 seventh before the Quakes began a comeback. Feduccia led off the bottom of the inning with a double, his first, before being driven in on a two-run home run by Quakes first baseman Dillon Paulson, to pull Rancho to within one. 

Melvin Jimenez replaced Gamboa for the eighth, walking the first two batters he faced, but sat down the next three with strikeouts. In the bottom of the inning, Amaya brought in a run on a fielder’s choice and then scored on a two-RBI triple from Feduccia that put Rancho up 6-4 for good. Jimenez started the inning and got an out before being replaced by two-way player Brandon Montgomery. ‘B-Mont’ (as he is affectionately known) recorded a strikeout and a groundout to end the game, earning his first save and the win for Jimenez. 

Game-3

Vargas got the Quakes on the board in the bottom of the first with a RBI double, but neither team would score again until the fifth. Four straight singles to start the bottom of the fifth, including one from Taylor, gave the Rancho a 4-0 lead. A RBI double from Amaya drove in run number five and right fielder Brayan Morales yet another with his second single of the inning. Kendall’s second base hit of the inning drove in run number seven of the inning, giving the Quakes an 8-0 lead.

After giving up just one hit through five innings, Quakes starter Gerardo Carrillo gave up a RBI single in the seventh to break up the shutout. He was then switched out for Connor Strain, who got the third out of the inning and went through the seventh as well. Strain was removed for Darien Nunez, who gave up a hit in his one inning of work. Drury took over for the final inning, giving up back-to-back hits to start. He struck out a batter and walked another before a 4-6-3 double play ended the game. Carrillo earned the win, his third of the year.

Coming Up

The Quakes begin a seven-game road trip on Tuesday evening with three games against the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) at The Diamond, followed by four with the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino.

Minor Leagues – Major Fun!

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Author’s Note: Chris Taylor is expected to rejoin the Dodgers on Tuesday when they open a three-game interleague series with the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium. He went a combined 6-for-14 (.429) with a home run and five RBI in his four rehab games with the Quakes.

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