Rancho Falls in Extras to High Desert
Rancho Cucamonga, CA - Rancho fell in extra innings on Friday night in a 7-4 loss to the High Desert Mavericks. High Desert's Jordy Lara hit a three-run home run in the top of the 10th off of Rob Rogers, and that proved to be the difference.
Rancho Cucamonga (20-14, 52-52) scored the game's first three runs. In the bottom of the first inning, Alex Guerrero drove in Rob Garvey with a single to centerfield. Guerrero finished his five-game stint with the Quakes 7-for-19 with four doubles and two RBIs.
The Quakes tacked on two more runs in the third inning. James Baldwin led off with a triple down the right-field line. Casio Grider followed with an RBI single, and Grider scored later in the inning on Chris Jacobs' single to centerfield to give the Quakes a 3-0 lead. Grider was the only Quake with multiple hits in the game.
High Desert (16-18, 50-54) got on the board in the fourth inning. With one on and two outs, Tom Windle gave up a two-run home run to Tyler Marlette. The Mavs took the lead in the fifth inning thanks to two runs on two hits. Windle took a no-decision in the contest, giving up four runs on seven hits in six innings.
Rancho tied the game in the sixth inning. Chris Jacobs reached on an error to begin the frame, and an Aaron Miller single moved him to second base. A wild pitch put both men in scoring position. Jeremy Rathjen cashed in Jacobs with a sacrifice fly to right field. It was Rathjen's 17th RBI in 21 games since the All-Star Break.
The Quakes left runners on third base in the sixth and seventh innings, and those were the team's last chances. Andrew Kittredge (5-1, 5.10) entered the game in the seventh with two outs and retired all ten men he faced with seven strikeouts.
Rob Rogers (2-5, 4.76) pitched a scoreless ninth inning, but he could not hold off the Mavs in extras. With two on and two outs in the top of the 10th, Rogers gave up a three-run home run to Jordy Lara. It was Lara's 22nd homer of the year, and his second in as many games versus Rancho.
With the loss, the Quakes have dropped 12 of their last 14 contests. They fall back into a tie with Lake Elsinore in the South Division standings at 20-14 in the Second Half. In the first two games of this series, the Quakes have given up seven home runs.
The Quakes go for their first win of the series on Saturday night at LoanMart Field. First-round draft pick Chris Anderson (6-6, 4.91) takes the mound for Rancho against High Desert lefty Scott DeCecco (5-9, 5.61). First pitch is at 7:05 pm and the game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports AM 1350 starting with the LoanMart Pregame Report at 6:50 pm.
After Saturday's contest, fans at LoanMart Field will be treated to a Fireworks Spectacular thanks to Chaffey College! Tickets are still available by calling (909) 481-5000 or online at rcquakes.com. We hope to see you at LoanMart Field this weekend! Go Quakes!