Extra Innings with Lauren: Quakes Walk-off to win 7th Straight Series!

The Quakes and the JetHawks played each other for the 5th time this year, the third in the second half, and the third time at LoanMart Field. I personally knew this was going to be a good series just by looking at how the JetHawks always seem to play, and how the Quakes have been playing lately. I also looked at what the teams had been able to do against each other earlier this season. The record now looks a little something like this: Series 1- RC Win, Series 2- LAN Sweep, Series 3- LAN Sweep, Series 4- RC/LAN Split, Series 5- RC Win. Rancho now has 6 wins over Lancaster, while Lancaster has 11 wins over Rancho.
Games 1 and 3 were certainly nail bitters, with the first going into extra innings, the 3rd time in 4 games (the other 2 against the 66ers), I might add, and the 3rd game being won with 2 strikes and 2 outs. In game 1, with two outs and runners on 1st and 3rd and the Quakes down by 1 in the bottom of the 10th, a strikeout from JetHawks pitcher, Kenny Long, ended the game. Talk about a close one. Game 3 was bound to have a similar end, or so we thought. With runners on 1st and 3rd, the Quakes found themselves down to their final strike, on the bad end of a score of 10-9, in the bottom of the 9th. Pedro Guerrero was at the plate and he did what we were all collectively holding our breaths for, a walk-off. A single was all it took to bring in pinch runner, Scott Wingo from 3rd and the speedy Casio Grider in from 1st.
The Quakes outscored the JetHawks, 19-17 and out hit them, 31-30.

Lancaster's Batting

Designated hitter/second baseman, Delino DeShields went 7-13 with 2 doubles, a triple, and a home run. DeShields was on cycle watch Sunday night, needing a double to come around full circle with one of the toughest feats in baseball, or at least it is in my head anyway. First baseman/third baseman, Matt Duffy went 3-11with a home run. Center fielder, Andrew Aplin went 2-13 with a double. Second baseman/shortstop/designated hitter, Joe Sclafani went 3-13 with 2 doubles and a triple. Third baseman, Carlos Perdomo went 1-7 with a double. Right fielder, Chris Epps went 6-11 with a home run. Catcher, Ryan McCurdy went 2-7 with a double. Designated hitter/first baseman, M.P. Cokinos went 2-10 with a triple.

Rancho's Batting

Outfielder, Noel Cuevas went 4-12 with a home run. Shortstop, Darnell Sweeney went 2-13 with a double. Designated hitter/first baseman, O'Koyea Dickson went 2-13 with a double. Left fielder, Bobby Coyle went 1-8 with a home run. First baseman/designated hitter, Chris Jacobs went 2-8 with a double and a home run. Center fielder/second baseman/left fielder, Casio Grider went 8-12 with a double and 3 bunt base hits. Third baseman, Pedro Guerrero went 5-9 with 3 doubles and the game 3 walk-off single. Right fielder, Scott Schebler went 3-9 with a home run. Catcher, Chris O'Brien went 1-4 with a double.

Pitching Overview

Game 1: JetHawks 2 Quakes 1 F/10
W- Blair Walters L- Blake Smith Sv- Kenny Long

Game 2: JetHawks 5 Quakes 7
W- Matt Shelton L- Kyle Hallock Sv- Eric Eadington

Game 3: JetHawks 10 Quakes 11
W- Jarret Martin L- Travis Ballew

JetHawks's Pitching

Game 1 winner, Blair Walters pitched 2.2 innings without allowing a hit in game 1, as well as another hit less inning in game 3. Travis Ballew didn't allow a hit over .2 innings in game 1. Kenny Long earned the game 1 save after going .1 innings without allowing a hit. Cameron Lamb allowed 1 hit in 1 inning in game 2.

Quakes's Pitching

Dan Coulombe did not allow a hit over 1.1 innings in game 1. Jarret Martin also did not allow a hit over 1 inning in game 1. He got the game 3 win after allowing 1 run on 3 hits over 1.2 innings. Matt Shelton earned the game 2 win after going 2.1 innings without allowing a hit. Eric Eadington earned the game 2 save after going 1.1 innings and giving up a hit.

Upcoming Games

The Quakes play the 66ers in Inland Empire for a 3 game series (7/30-8/1) before heading up to Visalia to play the Rawhide for a 3 game series (8/2-8/4).