Cotton Deals in Quakes' Second Straight Win

Bakersfield, CA - Jharel Cotton enjoyed one of the best pitching performances by any Quakes pitcher this year, combining with two relievers in a 7-1 win over the Bakersfield Blaze on Tuesday night at Sam Lynn Ballpark.

Cotton (4-7) allowed just one hit over seven shut-out innings, while the Rancho offense put up seven runs on ten hits, winning their second straight game and moving to one game ahead of the Lake Elsinore Storm in the second-half standings. 

For the fourth straight contest in Bakersfield, Rancho took an early lead. Unlike the other three games in the series, the Quakes would hold the lead throughout the night. 

Steven Proscia, who finished the game with a pair of doubles, opened the second inning with a two-bagger against Blaze starter Wandy Peralta, then eventually scored on a sac fly from Tyler Ogle, making it 1-0. 

Rancho added another tally in the second, one of their most exciting runs of the season. Adam Law reached on a fielder's choice and moved to third on a James Baldwin single. With runners at the corners, Peralta attempted a pick-off throw to first base, trying to nail Baldwin. The moment Peralta threw to first, Law broke for home and slid in head-first before first baseman Harold Riggins' throw to the plate, making it a 2-0 lead. 

Ogle took Peralta deep in the fourth, his sixth of the season to put Rancho up 3-0. Casio Grider ripped his first round-tripper of the year in the fifth, a solo-shot to make it a 4-0 advantage against Peralta (6-9) in the fifth.

The Quakes got some extra insurance in the ninth, as Baldwin tripled home a pair of runs, then scored from third on a throwing error to make it 7-0.

Yasmanys Fernandez and Rob Rogers combined to earn the final six outs, with Rogers giving up a run with two outs in the ninth, as the Blaze avoided the shutout on an RBI single from Juan Perez.

After a 2-5 road trip, the Quakes (20-12, 52-50) will take a day off on Wednesday, then return to LoanMart Field on Thursday night, opening a four-game set against the High Desert Mavericks. Gustavo Gomez (1-1) will make a spot-start in the rotation for Rancho, while the Mavs will throw Brett Shankin (3-4) in the opener. 

Thursday night is another Thirsty Thursday, as fans can enjoy $2 domestic 16-oz drafts, $2 24-oz Pepsi Products and $3 premium 16-oz drafts throughout the night. Game time in the series-opener on Thursday will be 7:05pm. Tickets are available by calling (909) 481-5000. We hope to see you very soon at LoanMart Field. Go Quakes!