Quakes Snap Skid with Offensive Flurry

Rancho Cucamonga snapped a four-game home losing streak, rallying for an 8-5 victory over Visalia at LoanMart Field on Tuesday night to avoid a series sweep.

With the score tied 5-5, the Quakes (11-13, 52-42) jumped in front against Rawhide reliever J.R. Bradley (1-3). Tim Locastro was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Paul Hoenecke drove a double into the left-center field gap, scoring Locastro for a 6-5 edge.

Rancho Cucamonga grabbed its first lead of the game in the sixth inning against starter Blake Perry. Trailing 4-3, Brandon Dixon singled to center field and Austin Chubb clobbered a homer over the left field fence, giving the home team a 5-4 advantage. For Chubb, it was his second long ball of the year, both against Visalia.

Visalia (18-7, 60-35) punched back in the top of the seventh. Breland Almadova singled to center field against reliever Joe Broussard and stole second base. Left-hander Michael Johnson entered the game for one batter and walked Kevin Medrano, setting up runners at first and second. Right-hander Rob Rogers (5-2) was summoned from the bullpen. With Kevin Cron batting, a wild pitch pushed Almadova to third. After Cron struck out, Daniel Palka walked to load the bases. With Jamie Westbrook at the plate, Rogers uncorked another wild pitch, allowing Almadova to race home and tie the contest at 5-5.

Leading 6-5, Rancho Cucamonga added two valuable runs in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Bud Jeter. Josmar Cordero doubled to left-center field, extending his hitting streak to five games. Chubb singled to left, setting up runners at the corners. Joey Curletta's safety squeeze bunt resulted in a hit, plating Cordero. With Locastro batting, a wild pitch by Jeter allowed Chubb to hustle home, making it an 8-5 game.

The Rawhide had one last chance to tie in the ninth. Caleb Dirks allowed a two-out single to Kevin Cron, but struck out Palka to register his second save of the season.

Left-hander Julio Urias made his return to Rancho Cucamonga, starting on the mound for the Quakes. The 18-year-old, ranked by Baseball America as the third-best prospect in the Dodgers' system, pitched in 25 games with Rancho Cucamonga in 2014, going 2-2 with a 2.36 ERA. Urias started this season with Double-A Tulsa, but is recovering from voluntary facial surgery in May to correct an eye issue.

Visalia took the initial lead against Urias in the first inning. Mitch Haniger doubled to left field. Medrano reached on an infield hit, advancing Haniger to third. Cron delivered a sacrifice fly to center, chasing Haniger home for a 1-0 edge.

The visitors tacked on another run in the second against Urias. Domingo Leyba doubled to left and scored on Tyler Baker's single up the middle, giving the Rawhide a 2-0 cushion.

After being shut out during their last two games, the Quakes snapped a 21 and two-third inning scoreless drought in the third inning against Perry. Locastro reached on a bunt single. Travis Witherspoon also had an infield hit, placing runners at first and second. Locastro advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on Hoenecke's RBI groundout to first, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Visalia added to their margin in the fifth against Urias, who was on a roughly 75-pitch limit. Almadova led off the inning with a bunt single. With two outs and a full-count, Cron drilled his 19th home run of the season, sneaking the ball inside the left field foul pole to give the Rawhide a 4-1 cushion.

Urias' night ended at four and two-third innings, allowing four runs and seven hits while striking out four.

Rancho Cucamonga began their comeback in the bottom of the fifth against Perry. Locastro walked and Johan Mieses clubbed a homer over the left field fence, his third of the season to make it a 4-3 contest.

After going scoreless for nearly two-and-a-half games, the Quakes tallied runs during each of their last four at-bats on Tuesday night. With the win, Rancho Cucamonga improves its California League-best home record to 30-20.

Following an off-day on Wednesday, the Quakes return to action on Thursday, beginning a four-game series at Inland Empire. Rancho Cucamonga will send right-hander Jeff Brigham (4-5, 5.40 ERA) to the mound, while the 66ers counter with left-hander Sean Newcomb (5-1, 2.67 ERA). First pitch at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino is slated for 7:05 pm. You can follow all the action on FOX Sports 1350 AM, beginning with the LoanMart Pregame show at 6:50.

The Quakes return to LoanMart Field on Thursday, July 30th to begin a four-game series against Lake Elsinore! The series opener is a Slater's 50/50 Thirsty Thursday, featuring 24-ounce Pepsi products for $2, 16-ounce domestic drafts for $3 and 16-ounce premium drafts, wine, champagne and margaritas for just $4, thanks to Slater's 50/50! Tickets for all remaining Quakes' home games are available at rcquakes.com or by calling (909) 481-5000. We hope to see you very soon at LoanMart Field…Go Quakes!