Despite Loss, Quakes' Magic Number Down to One

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - A five-run first inning staked Rancho Cucamonga to an early lead, but Visalia roared back to claim a 10-6 victory in the second game of the series at Rawhide Ballpark on Friday night.

Despite the loss, Rancho Cucamonga had its magic number reduced to one for a first-half South Division title, thanks to Lancaster's setback against Lake Elsinore on Friday night.

The Quakes (39-29) jumped on top of Visalia starter Ryan Doran in the top of the first inning. Brandon Trinkwon opened the game with a single. Cody Bellinger doubled to right, placing runners at second and third. Trinkwon came home with the game's first run on Tyler Ogle's RBI groundout. Paul Hoenecke extended his hitting streak to ten games with a single to right, plating Bellinger. Josmar Cordero singled up the middle. Joey Curletta launched a three-run homer over the left field fence for his fifth of the season, giving Rancho Cucamonga a 5-0 advantage.

Visalia (42-26) reduced the deficit in the bottom of the first against starter Brock Stewart. Alex Glenn walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Kevin Cron laced a single to left field, scoring Glenn. Daniel Palka singled to right, advancing Cron to third. Jamie Westbrook's grounder to short resulted in an error by Dillon Moyer, plating Cron to make it a 5-2 contest.

The Rawhide continued their comeback in the second inning against Stewart. Domingo Leyba reached on an infield hit and Glenn singled to right. Cron doubled down the left field line, chasing Leyba and Glenn home to trim the margin to 5-4.

The home team tied the game in the third against Quakes' reliever Joe Broussard (0-1). Fidel Pena singled to left and advanced to second on Breland Almadova's groundout. Leyba's base-hit to right field scored Pena to make it a 5-5 contest.

Rancho Cucamonga regained the lead in the fifth against Rawhide reliever Zack Godley (8-3). Trinkwon opened the inning with a single. Johan Mieses' sacrifice bunt pushed him to second. Ogle doubled off the center field fence, plating Trinkwon for a 6-5 edge.

Visalia stormed ahead in the bottom of the fifth, with Broussard still on the mound. Stewart Ijames doubled into the right field corner. Pena singled to left, chasing Ijames home to tie the game. Almadova doubled to left, scoring Pena with the go-ahead run. Leyba singled up the middle as Almadova came home. Cron capped the four-run inning with a double to left, giving the North Division champions a 9-6 cushion.

The Rawhide tacked on another run in the sixth against reliever Victor Araujo. Jamie Westbrook blasted a solo homer to left, giving the home team their final run in the 10-6 victory.

The Quakes will try to clinch the division on Saturday against Visalia in the third game of the weekend set. Rancho Cucamonga will send left-hander Luis De Paula (0-0, 4.76 ERA) to the mound, while the Rawhide will counter with righty Blayne Weller (4-4, 4.79 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 pm. You can catch all the action on FOX Sports 1350 AM, beginning with the LoanMart Pregame Show at 6:45.

The California-Carolina League All-Star Game, presented by WaBa Grill, comes to LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday, June 23rd! Tickets for this special event, which includes the U.S. Bank Home Run Derby, are available at (909) 481-5000 or at rcquakes.com. Meanwhile, the Quakes return home on Tuesday, June 30th against High Desert. We hope to see you very soon at LoanMart Field…Go Quakes!