Quakes Pull Away from Storm in Home Opener

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - Rancho Cucamonga hitters flexed their muscles in Thursday night's home opener, cranking out seven extra-base hits en route to an 8-3 win over Lake Elsinore in front of 3,047 fans at LoanMart Field.

 

The Quakes (5-3) got the offense going in the second inning against Lake Elsinore starter Ronald Herrera (1-1). Cody Bellinger set the tone with a double to the right-center field gap, then Paul Hoenecke delivered a two-bagger of his own, scoring Bellinger. Kyle Farmer's single to left chased Hoenecke home, providing Rancho with a 2-0 lead.

The home team padded its margin in the third. Devan Ahart reached on an infield single before Brandon Trinkwon doubled him home. Joey Curletta followed with a two-bagger of his own, plating Trinkwon for a 4-0 Quakes' advantage.

On the mound, Zach Bird (2-0) was dominant, retiring 10 consecutive Storm batters between the second and fifth inning. Lake Elsinore (3-5) snapped that string in the sixth. Jose Rondon drew a leadoff walk, Fernando Perez singled to right field and Gabriel Quintana doubled down the left field line, scoring Rondon to get the Storm on the board and chase Bird from the contest. Robert Kral's sacrifice fly against reliever Dan Tillman brought Perez home, cutting the deficit to 4-2.

The Quakes responded in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Walker Weichel. Bellinger led off with a bunt single and scored on Curletta's double to center, pushing Rancho to a 5-2 margin.

Lake Elsinore answered in the seventh. Kyle Gaedele delivered his first hit of the season, a solo homer to left against Tillman to make it a 5-3 ballgame.

Rancho Cucamonga provided the exclamation point in the eighth. Jarek Cunningham blooped a single to open the inning. Bellinger drove a fly ball to deep right field that was dropped by Yale Rosen, scoring Cunningham and resulting in Bellinger at third base. Curletta's pop-up to shallow right was misplayed by the second baseman Perez, bringing Bellinger home. Hoenecke blasted a solo dinger to right-center field, bringing the Opening Night crowd to its feet with an 8-3 score.

Randy Fontanez pitched the final two innings out of the bullpen for the Quakes to earn his first save of the season.

The Quakes will seek their third straight win on Friday night against Lake Elsinore in the second game of the series at LoanMart Field. Rancho Cucamonga will send right-hander Scott Barlow (0-0, 3.60 ERA) to the mound, while the Storm counter with righty Rafael De Paula (1-0, 3.00 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm. Friday's tilt features our Family RV $1 Family Feast: hot dogs, 12-ounce Pepsi products and ice cream sandwiches will be available for just a dollar! Roughly 100 tickets are available at (909) 481-5000 or online at rcquakes.com. We hope to see you very soon at LoanMart Field...Go Quakes!