For the final time this regular season, the Quakes traveled to Lancaster to take on the JetHawks (Rockies) in a three-game series. Things in Lancaster are always a bit strange with late rallies and unexpected home runs, but this seemed to be one of the more mellow series in the desert for the Quakes and ‘Hawks. 

Game-1 

Designated hitter Stevie Berman got things started at the Coors Field-esque Hangar with a solo shot to right-center in the second. Shortstop Deacon Liput kept the party going in the third with a two-run shot to put Rancho up 3-0.

However, in the bottom of the inning, the JetHawks offense got to Quake starter Andre Jackson. After giving up a leadoff double, Jackson gave up an RBI single. Catcher Hunter Feduccia made an error on a sac bunt that eventually led to the bases being loaded. A base hit drove in the second ‘Hawks run and a sac fly tied it. Jackson was able to escape further damage, striking out the next two batters.

From the fourth inning on, the starters for both teams kept things in control up until the seventh. Right fielder Donovan Casey hit a two-run home run to left-center and third basemen Miguel Vargas hit his first home run with the Quakes to give them back the lead. To add insurance, Berman drove in another run, putting Rancho up 7-3. 

Jackson walked the first two batters in the inning and was removed in favor of Max Gamboa. Gamboa gave up a single and a sac fly to the first two batters he faced and later balked, giving up three runs, two of which were charged to Jackson. Brett de Geus took over in the eighth, going for a six-out save with the tight 7-6 lead. He allowed a hit over his two innings but kept the game from going to extras, earning his second save and allowing Jackson to record his third win. 

Game-2

The Quakes took another early lead, this time with a solo home run from Liput in the first. However, in the bottom of the third, Quake starter Leo Crawford gave up runs on a sac fly and a two-run home run. In the top of the fourth, the Quakes offense evened things out again with RBI single from Casey and Feduccia. They continued to add to their run total, scoring a run on a ground rule double from designated hitter Starling Heredia and a sac fly from second baseman Jeter Downs.

Aside from the third inning, Crawford held back the JetHawks offense over his six innings of work, giving way to Sven Schueller for the bottom of the seventh. Center fielder Jeren Kendall gave Schueller some insurance to work with, driving in a run with a double in the eighth. In the bottom of the inning, Schueller gave up a two-run double, making the score 6-5 Rancho. He was replaced by Guillermo Zuniga for the bottom of the ninth. Zuniga gave up the game-tying run on a one-out double and proceeded to give up a game-winning single. 

Game-3

Starter Michael Grove had a rough go of things in the rubber game of the series, giving up five runs on three hits in just 1.2 innings. Austin Drury came in with two outs in the bottom of the second but also ran into some trouble with the JetHawks offense. After inheriting two runners from Grove, Drury gave up back-to-back doubles to give Lancaster a commanding 6-0 lead. 

Downs made an effort to get the Quakes back in the game, smacking a two-run shot to left-center in the third to get Rancho within four. In the top of the fourth, designated hitter Marcus Chiu hit a solo home run to cut the ‘Hawks lead in half, but that would be the last run scored for the Quakes. Connor Strain took over for Drury in the fifth inning and gave up a run. It could have been two runs, but Kendall threw an overzealous base runner out at home.

Strain continued into the sixth and gave up a hit before being switched for Bryan Warzek. Warzek gave up an RBI single, with the run being charged to Drury and officially ending his night. Warzek also took the seventh and eighth, giving up a run on a sac fly to put Lancaster up 9-3. Infielder Brandon Montgomery was tasked with getting the final out of the inning and he did, inducing a ground out. The loss was the Quakes 45th of the season and Grove’s fifth.

Coming Up

The Quakes continue their road trip over the weekend, heading up to Central California to play the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks) in a three-game series before returning home.

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