The Quakes had lost five straight games coming into this series against the Lancaster JetHawks (Rockies) and looked to bounce back and work their way back into first place. 

Game-1

The Quakes scored three quick runs via the long ball in the second. Center fielder Jeren Kendall hit a solo shot on the first pitch of his at-bat and left fielder Marcus Chiu hit a two-run home run to left. Michael Grove got the start for the Quakes, a day earlier than previously listed as Leo Crawford was promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. Grove went 3.1 innings without allowing a run and only two hits and a walk while striking out five.

Austin Hamilton took over for Grove with one out in the fourth. In the bottom of the sixth, shortstop Jeter Downs scored on a wild pitch to give Rancho a 4-0 lead. Hamilton faced three batters in the seventh before handing the ball over to Melvin Jimenez. Hamilton gave up seven hits over his three innings of work but kept the JetHawks off the board. Designated Hitter Starling Heredia gave the Quakes an insurance run in the bottom of the inning with a triple to right. Jimenez gave up a solo home run in the eighth, breaking up the shutout, but had a 1-2-3 ninth to keep the victory intact for Hamilton and earning himself an eight-out save. With the win, the Quakes snapped a five-game losing streak and moved back into a first-place tie with the JetHawks.

Game-2

Quakes Starter Gerardo Carrillo started off the game with two clean innings but ran into some trouble in the third, hitting batter before giving up a single and two wild pitches, the latter allowing a run to score. A sac fly later in the inning gave the ‘Hawks a 2-0 lead. Catcher Jordan Procyshen led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot, but that would be the Quakes only run until the bottom of the ninth. Carrillo gave up three straight singles in the fifth, allowing a run to score. 

Max Gamboa took over in the sixth and had a 1-2-3 inning but gave up a leadoff triple and a double in the seventh to give Lancaster another run. Connor Strain took over and walked the bases loaded before walking in a run. He ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts. Brett de Geus went in for the ninth and had a 1-2-3 inning before the Quakes got their lasts at-bats. First baseman Miguel Vargas lead off the bottom of the ninth with a single and was driven in on a double by Kendall, but their late rally would be short-lived, with the next three batters recording outs. Carrillo suffered his ninth loss of the year and the JetHawks retook sole possession of first place.

Game-3

Kendall once again rose to the occasion, tripling in a run in the bottom of the third to get the Quakes on the board first. Starter John Rooney had three clean innings to start the game and picked off a runner in the fourth but gave up a solo home run to tie the game at one. He had a 1-2-3 fifth, but a walk, fielding error, and a sac fly in the sixth allowed two runs to score. Sven Schueller took over, needing one out to get out of the inning. Three singles and an error lead to the JetHawks fifth run of the game scoring, but Schueller eventually got the out he needed. Darien Nunez went in for him in the eighth and had a 1-2-3 inning before the Quakes began a two-part comeback. Three straight hits got the Quakes within one as catcher Hunter Feduccia drove in two runs on a base hit. 

Nunez issued a walk in the top of the ninth but struck out the side to end the inning and set the Quakes up for the second rally of the night. Vargas reached on a fielder’s choice that sent the game-tying run home. Right fielder Marcus Chiu then struck out, but in a bizarre turn of events, a catching error was committed by the JetHawks second baseman on a delayed steal attempt from Vargas, allowing Kendall to score the game-winner. Nunez earned the win, his first of the year and the Quakes moved back into a first-place tie with Lancaster. 

Coming Up

The Quakes travel back to Banner Island Ballpark, home of the Stockton Ports (Athletics), for the final time this season before opening a six-game homestand at LoanMart Field on Tuesday, August 13; three against the Modesto Nuts (Mariners) and three against the Visalia Rawhide (Diamondbacks).

Minor Leagues – Major Fun!

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