O'Brien Blast Helps Quakes Rally in Visalia
August 3, 2013 - California League (CalL1)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes News Release
Visalia, CA - Chris O'Brien's three-run homer gave the Quakes the lead for good, as Rancho rallied from an early four-run deficit, downing Visalia in the opening game of a three-game set, 9-7, on Friday night at Recreation Park in Visalia.
O'Brien popped one of three Quakes' homers, with Bobby Coyle stroking the other two, helping the Quakes reach the .500 mark (21-21) in the second half for the third time in the last week.
JonMichael Redding (4-4) gave up four runs over the first two innings, but settled down to give the Quakes six innings of work and eventually earn the win.
Jon Griffin's three-run homer in the first had Visalia on the board early. They added a run in the second to take a 4-0 advantage.
Visalia starter Brandon Simmery was untouchable early, as he retired the first ten Quakes he faced, before finally touched in the fourth. Scott Schebler walked and then scored on Rancho's first hit of the game, an RBI double by Darnell Sweeney to make it 4-1.
Schebler added an infield hit in the fifth, scoring Scott Wingo to close to within two at 4-2.
Coyle led off the sixth with his first of two solo homers, bringing the Quakes to within a run. O'Brien capped the inning with a three-run blast off Simmery (2-1) to put Rancho up 6-4.
Wingo added a two-run double in the seventh, as the Quakes took an 8-4 advantage.
Visalia pulled to within a run in the eighth, as Sean Jamieson's three-run homer off Joel Lima made it 8-7.
Coyle struck for another long-ball in the ninth though, his 14th of the year, giving Rancho some insurance at 9-7.
Matt Shelton, who entered with a man aboard in the eighth to snuff out a Visalia rally, worked a 1-2-3 ninth to record his third save of the year.
The Quakes (52-60) stay five games out of first in the South Division and are now just 1 ý games out of a wild card spot, behind High Desert. Geison Aguasviva (0-0) will make his first appearance this year in a Quakes' uniform on Saturday night, as he'll take the ball for Rancho. Andrew Barbosa (7-7) will throw for the Rawhide, with the middle game of the series set to begin at 6:00pm.
The Quakes will return to LoanMart Field on Tuesday, August 6th, taking on the Lake Elsinore Storm in a three-game home stand. Tickets are available by calling (909) 481-5000 or online at rcquakes.com. We hope to see you very soon at LoanMart Field. Go Quakes!
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California League Stories from August 3, 2013
- Gray Dominates as Nuts Blank Ports - Modesto Nuts
- Ports Blanked in Series Opener 5-0 - Stockton Ports
- Giants Erupt Offensively to Rout Blaze, 15-6 - San Jose Giants
- O'Brien Blast Helps Quakes Rally in Visalia - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Race out Early, Clobber Blaze 15-6 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Offense Keeps Rolling for Solid Hauschild - Lancaster JetHawks
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