Quakes Sweep 66ers to Start 2nd Half

In the first half of the 2014 season, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes played the Inland Empire 66ers ten times, with each team getting five wins apiece. To start off the second half of the season, the two teams met again. With new records, both teams looked to start off the 2nd half in a better place than they had finished in the 1st half. The Quakes got going in the right direction by taking game one of the four game series, by a final score of 4-3. They then continued their good fortune by winning 8-1 in game two, 13-9 in game 3, and 8-1 again in game 4. Sweeping the 66ers gives the Quakes sole possession of first place, in the south division, with a 2nd half record of 4-0 and an overall record of 36-38. To top off the current first place status, the Quakes had two Dodger rehabbers at their disposal. Juan Uribe was used as a designated hitter in game 1 and played third in games 2 and 3, while LHP, Scott Elbert, was the starting pitcher for game 3.

The Quakes outscored the 66ers, 33-14, while out hitting them 39-29.

Inland Empire's Batting

Center fielder/left fielder, Mark Shannon went 4-16 with a double. First baseman, Wade Hinkle, went 2-11 with two doubles. Right fielder/designated hitter/first baseman, Dennis Raben, went 4-15 with two home runs. Third baseman, Cal Towey, went 4-16 with a double. Left fielder/right fielder, Riley Good, went 5-7, giving him a series batting average of .714. Left fielder/second baseman, Chance Ross, went 2-6 with a double. Catcher, Anthony Bemboom went 1-4 with a double.

Rancho Cucamonga's Batting

Left fielder, Adam Law, went 6-16 with two doubles. Rehabbing designated hitter/third baseman, Juan Uribe, went 4-11 with a double. Shortstop, Corey Seager, went 5-13 with two doubles and a home run. First baseman, Chris Jacobs, went 5-13 with two home runs. Catcher, Tyler Ogle, went 3-7 with two doubles. Third baseman, Steven Proscia, went 2-11 with a double and a grand slam. Second baseman, Brandon Dixon, went 3-15 with a double. Right fielder/center fielder, Robbie Garvey, went 3-14 with a triple. Center fielder, James Baldwin, went 2-7 with a double and a triple.

Pitching Overview

Game 1: 66ers 3 Quakes 4
W- Jharel Cotton L- Dan Tobik S-Rob Rogers
Game 2: 66ers 1 Quakes 8
W- Tom Windle L-Tyler DeLoach
Game 3: 66ers 9 Quakes 13
W- Freddie Cabrera L- Mike Clevinger
Game 4: 66ers 1 Quakes 8
W- Lindsey Caughel L- Mark Sappington

Inland Empire's Pitching

RHP, Eduard Santos threw 1.1 hitless innings over 2 games. RHP, Jairo Diaz, pitched 1 hitless inning of relief in game 2. RHP, Michael Smith allowed 1 hit over 3 innings in game 3.

Rancho Cucamonga's Pitching

Game 1 winner, RHP, Jharel Cotton, allowed 2 runs on 6 hits over 7 innings. LHP, Dan Coulombe, earned a hold in game 1 after going 1 inning and not allowing a hit. He also threw 1.1 hitless innings in game 3. RHP, Rob Rogers, earned the game 1 save after allowing an unearned run on 1 hit over 1 inning of work. Game 2 starter, LHP, Tom Windle earned the win after going 5 innings and allowing 1 run on 5 hits. LHP, Geoff Brown got a hold after allowing 1 hit over two innings in game 2. RHP, Daniel Tillman, allowed 2 hits over 2 innings against his former team in game 2. Dodgers rehabber, LHP, Scott Elbert, started game 3, throwing a 1-2-3, hitless first, with 2 strikeouts. Quakes newcomer,  LHP, Yasmanys Fernandez made his debut in game 3, throwing a hitless inning. The game 3 win went to RHP, Freddie Cabrera, after he allowed 2 runs on 2 hits over 3.1 innings. LHP, Julio Urias, started game 4 and went 3 innings and allowed 2 hits. RHP, Lindsey Caughel, earned the game 4 win after going 6 innings and allowing 1 run on 5 hits in his first appearance since May 6th.

Roster Moves

Juan Uribe and Scott Elbert were added to the roster for rehab assignments. Catcher, Kyle Farmer was added to the roster from Great Lakes and catcher, Jose Capellan was added to the Great Lakes roster. Pitcher, Yasmanys Fernandez was added to the roster, while pitcher, Luis Meza was placed on the disabled list. Pitcher, Lindsey Caughel was activated from the disabled list and pitcher, Owen Jones was released.

Upcoming Games

The Quakes have a 3 game set in High Desert from June 23rd-25th. They then will play a 4 game set in Inland Empire, June 26th-29th. The Quakes return home July 1st for a three game home stand against the Mavericks.

Photos Courtesy of Jerry Leija

Juan Uribe takes the field

Tom Windle on the hill

Juan Uribe on deck

Juan Uribe up to bat

Kyle Farmer on deck

Kyle Farmer behind the plate

Juan Uribe and Corey Seager

Juan Uribe

Adam Law sliding into second

Juan Uribe 

Meeting on the mound 

Kyle Farmer safe at home

Robbie Garvey up to bat

Aaron Miller rounding third

Chris Jacobs round third

Robbie Garvey in at third with a stand-up triple

66ers meeting on the mound

Quakes win game 2

Quakes & Hawks Split Final Series of 1st Half

Coming into the final series of the first half, the Lancaster JetHawks rested comfortably in first place, one win away from being crowned the first half California League South Champions. The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, on the other hand, sat in fourth place, right above the Inland Empire 66ers. The JetHawks came into the series with a record of 42-24, which tied them with the Bakersfield Blaze for the best record in the Cal League. The Quakes had a record of 30-36. The first game of the series ended in favor of the JetHawks, allowing them to clinch the first half crown, as did the third game. The second and fourth game, however, ended in favor of the Quakes, allowing the series to end in a split. The JetHawks finished the first half with a record of 44-26 (2nd in the Cal League) while the Quakes finished with a record of 32-38 (8th in the Cal League).

Game four of the series, which I was able to attend, was definitely a fun game to be at. It was the final night of the first half as well as the final night of Lancaster's Star Wars weekend. That night's giveaway, a Jedi Jose Altuve Bobblehead, got the night started right. The Quakes got the scoring started early, scoring a run in the first inning off of JetHawks starter, Kyle Westwood. Quakes' starter, Chris Anderson, had a 1-2-3 inning to start the game, but allowed a run to score in the 2nd, tying the game at 1. In the third, the Quakes scored 3 runs and never looked back. The JetHawks scored their second run in the 3rd, but would not score again until the 9th. The Quakes, on the other hand, scored 1 in the 5th courtesy of a solo shot by Steven Prosica, 3 in the 7th on a three run home run by Tyler Ogle, and one final run in the 9th on a home run by Jonathan Garcia.

The JetHawks outscored the Quakes 28-20, as well as outhit them, 42-37.

Rancho Cucamonga's Batting

Left fielder/third baseman, Adam Law went 1-11 with a double. Second baseman, Brandon Dixon, went 4-16 with a double. Designated hitter, Aaron Miller, went 3-17 with a triple and 2 home runs. Third baseman/first baseman, Steven Proscia, went 6-13 with a double and a home run. Right fielder/left fielder, Robbie Garvey, went 4-13 a double. Center fielder, James Baldwin went 4-13 with a double. Right fielder, Jonathan Garcia went 4-13 with a double and a home run. Catcher, Tyler Ogle, went 2-11 with a home run.

Lancaster's Batting

Second baseman, Tony Kemp, went 7-13 with 2 doubles. Shortstop, Carlos Correa, went 3-11 with a double. Third baseman, Rio Ruiz, went 2-15 with a home run. Catcher, Roberto Pena, went 3-9 with a home run. First baseman, Conrad Gregor, went 5-16 with a double and a home run. Right fielder/designated hitter, Danry Vasquez, went 10-16 with 3 doubles. Designated hitter/shortstop/second baseman, Jack Mayfield, went 2-12 with a home run. Designated hitter/right fielder/left fielder, Dan Gulbransen, went 2-11 with a double. Catcher, Jobduan Morales, went 2-7 with a home run.

Pitching Overview

Game 1: Quakes 3 JetHawks 16
W- Chris Devenski L- Jharel Cotton
Game 2: Quakes 4 JetHawks 2
W- Tom Windle L- Mark Appel
Game 3: Quakes 4 JetHawks 7
W- Juan Minaya L- Luis Meza Sv- Jamaine Cotton
Game 4: Quakes 9 JetHawks 3
W- Chris Anderson L- Kyle Westwood

Quakes' Pitching

RHP, Daniel Tillman, threw 1.1 hitless innings in game 1. LHP, Tom Windle got the game 2 win after allowing just 3 hits over 7 innings. LHP, Dan Coulombe, threw .2 hitless innings in game 2. LHP, Geoff Brown threw a hitless inning in game 3. Game 4 winner, RHP, Chris Anderson, in one of his better starts of the season, allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on 4 hits over 5 innings in game 4. RHP, Freddie Cabrera, earned a hold in game four after throwing a hitless inning. Starter, LHP, Julio Urias, went in for two innings of relief in game four, allowing no hits and striking out 4.

Lancaster's Pitching

Starter, RHP, Chris Devenski earned the game 1 win after allowing 2 runs, on 3 hits, over 6 innings. RHP, Matt Heidenreich, allowed 1 hit over two innings in game 1 and 2 hits through 1 inning in game 4. RHP, Zach Morton, allowed 1 hit over four innings of work in game 2. LHP, Brian Holmes, threw 2 hitless innings in game 2. RHP, Juan Minaya, earned the game 3 win after going 2 innings and allowing an unearned run on no hits. LHP, Mitchell Lambson, earned a hold in game 3, allowing 1 hit over 1 inning. RHP, Jamaine Cotton, earned the game 3 save after tossing a hitless inning.

Roster Moves

LHP, Jack McGeary was assigned to Rancho from Ogden and then released. LHP, Robert Carson was promoted to AA, Chattanooga. LHP, Geoff Brown was assigned to Rancho from Ogden.

Upcoming Games

The Quakes and the rest of the Cal League are currently on their All-Star Break, with the all-star game being held in Wilmington, Delaware on the 17th.  The Quakes have shortstop, Corey Seager, and first baseman, Chris Jacobs, as their representatives for the game which will be played against the Carolina League All-Stars. The All-Star break ends on Thursday, June 19th, when the Inland Empire 66ers take on the Quakes at LoanMart Field. Thursday is Thirsty Thursday, Friday is a Quakes hat giveaway [First 1,500 fans], Saturday is fireworks night, and Sunday is a Cheer Rally with USC Cheer. 

Quakes scoresheet 6/14

JetHawks scoresheet 6/14

KaBoom Autographed cards

Jedi Altuve w/ Trout, Tremor, Ethier

View from the Quakes dugout

JetHawks lineup 6/14

Quakes lineup 6/14

RC to LAN

Chris Jacobs (44), Conrad Gregor (16), Brandon Dixon (5)