CalL1 Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

Quakes Fall Sunday, Prepare for Monday Tie-Breaker in HD

Published on June 24, 2012 under California League (CalL1)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes News Release


Rancho Cucamonga, CA - There are tough losses and there are heartbreakers. This was a heartbreaker.

A nine-run ninth-inning rally from the Bakersfield Blaze snatched away the game and the series, as the Quakes fell 14-9 on Sunday afternoon at The Epicenter.

The Quakes appeared to have all the momentum heading in to the ninth inning with a 9-5 lead, as Scott McGough came in to try to salvage a split of the four-game series.

Unfortunately for Rancho, a leadoff single from Chris Berset, followed by a two-run bomb from Kurtis Muller blazed Bakersfield's trail to victory. McGough got Theo Bowe to strike out looking for the first out, before surrendering four consecutive singles, finally recording the second out of the inning as the go-ahead run crossed the plate to make it 10-9.

Robert Purpura entered the game and was unable to record an out, giving up two earned runs on three hits while walking two. Freddie Cabrera was able to finish the inning, throwing just one pitch, but the damage was already done.

The Quakes went quietly in the bottom of the ninth, as Chris Joyce (2-3) secured the win, retiring all six batters he faced while striking out two.

Scott McGough (2-4) suffered the loss, as he gave up five earned runs on seven hits while striking out one.

In the early going, the Quakes and Blaze traded runs as the Quakes scored two in the bottom of the second, followed by the Blaze plating two in the top of the third. The Quakes scored two more in the bottom of the third on a Jonathan Garcia homer, while Bakersfield tied the game yet again in the top of the fourth.

Then the Quakes seemingly broke the game open, scoring four times in the bottom of the fourth, aided by two Bakersfield errors.

Dodger rehabber Blake Hawksworth pitched a perfect first inning and was then relieved by Garrett Gould, who gave up five runs, four of them earned, in four innings of work while giving up seven hits and walking two.

Both Ryan Acosta and Steve Smith pitched well, as Acosta struck out two and walked one in two innings of work. Smith pitched one perfect inning and struck out two batters.

The Quakes (1-3, 38-36) will have to put this game behind them as they travel to High Desert for the first-half championship deciding tie-breaker with the Mavericks on Monday night in Adelanto. Angel Sanchez (6-3) will throw for the Quakes, as he'll make his fifth appearance of the year against the Mavs, looking to add to his already impressive 3-0 mark against High Desert. The Mavericks will send lefty Roenis Elias (6-4) to the bump, as he looks for his first win of the year over Rancho, in what will be his fourth start against the Quakes. Game time is 7:05pm and tickets are available through the Mavericks Ticket Office by calling (760) 246-MAVS.

The boys will be back at The Epicenter on Sunday, July 1st to take on the same Mavs while kicking off the summer with the first Valencia Commons Dodgers' Fun in the Sun-day. Join us as we welcome former Dodger "Sweet" Lou Johnson with an autograph session before the start to the game, all thanks to Valencia Commons. Game time is at 5:05pm and the gates will open at 4:05pm. Tickets are available at (909) 481-500 or online at rcquakes.com. Go Quakes!

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California League Stories from June 24, 2012


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