Quakes Sweep the Storm: Starring Hanley Ramirez

Rancho Cucamonga really did in fact become Dodgertown this weekend as Dodgers shortstop, Hanley Ramirez, played two of the three games in the Quakes series against the Lake Elsinore Storm. Ramirez was on a rehab assignment for a thumb injury he received while playing in the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic. From the way he played, you could hardly tell the injury even happened. We'll get to that later though. I gotta keep you interested in reading somehow right? So I'll go over the Storm's performance first.

The Storm's bats were fairly quiet this weekend with only three players hitting above .300 in the series. The Storm managed to get 22 hits in 96 at bats and scoring a total of 9 runs. Outfielder Yeison Asencio went 4-12 and batted .333 with 2 doubles and a home run. Catcher/ designated hitter, Robert Kral went 3-9, also batting .333. He hit a double as well as a home run. Shortstop, Jace Peterson went 4-10 and batted .400 with a home run. First baseman Lee Orr went 2-12, while batting .167 with a double. Second baseman, B.J. Guinn went 1-4 in the one game he played in, batting .250 with a triple.
The Storm pitching staff gave it a good shot, but seemed to lack their usual prowess. Three members of their bullpen faired fairly well this weekend however. RHP Robert Lara went 2 innings whie allowing no runs on just one hit. Matt Branham went 2.2 innings allowing just one hit and no runs. Cody Hebner pitched for just one inning, but allowed no runs and no hits as well.

Now for the part you've been waiting for. The Quakes got there bats going after a sleepy road trip in Inland Empire. They had 33 hits in 100 at bats and managed to score 20 runs. I'll start with Hanley "Hanleywood" Ramirez. He batted .500, going 3-6 with a double. I'm not sure about the rest of you, but that's the Hanley I like seeing at shortstop when I'm at Chavez Ravine. Next up is Jon Garcia. The right fielder went 4-8 (.500)with a home run, his 3rd of the year. O'Koyea Dickson went 6-13 (.462) and hit his 7th, 8th, and 9th doubles of the season. Catcher Chris O'Brien turned up the heat going 3-7 (.429) with a double. Catcher Pratt Maynard retuned to action for a game after a stint on the DL. He went 2-4 (.500) with a double and an amazing catch in foul territory right at the net seperating the field from the stands. Rob Garvey (no relation to Steve) went 2-5 (.400). Shortstop, Darnell Sweeney went 2-9 (.222) with a double. Scott Schebler went 3-10 (.300) with a double and two triples. Angelo Songco went 3-13 (.231) with his 2nd home run of the year.
Now to our pitching staff. Starter, Duke von Schamann had one of the best outings I've seen this year. In game one of the series, he went 7.2 innings while giving up just 1 run on 3 hits and earning the win. Relief pitcher Juan Noriega earned his first win of the year in game two of the series, going 2.2 innings while allowing just one hit after replacing an injured Gustavo Gomez. Following Noriega's one hit performance was fellow relief pitcher, James Campbell. Campbell went three innings while giving up just one hit. For the third and final game of the series, returning Quake, Freddie Cabrera got the win in his first appearance back with the Quakes after being transferred to Rancho from Extended Spring Training. He went 2 innings and allowed three hits and one run. Now the pitcher that really stands out to me is out closer, Michael Thomas. Throughout this series, he pitched 2.1 innings while only allowing 2 hits. He earned not only his 7th save, but his 8th as well.

The Quakes begin their next series in Stockton and from there they go on to San Jose. They return home May 7th and play the Inland Empire 66ers.

Photos taken by Lauren Jennings.

Game 1 victory Final score 1-5 Quakes

Game 2 victory Final score 3-8 Quakes

Game 3 victory Final score 5-7 Quakes