Verdugo's Cycle Helps Quakes Rout JetHawks

Alex Verdugo hit for the cycle as Rancho Cucamonga rolled to a 10-2 victory over Lancaster at The Hangar on Wednesday night, snapping a three-game skid.

Verdugo supplied some power for the Quakes (30-29, 71-58) in the second inning against JetHawks' starter Keegan Yuhl (4-1). The 19-year-old from Tucson, AZ blasted a solo homer to right-center field, giving his club a 1-0 edge.

Rancho Cucamonga added a pair of runs in the third against Yuhl. Devan Ahart opened the inning with a single. Kyle Garlick doubled, chasing Ahart home from first base. Tyler Ogle singled to left field, bringing Garlick home for a 3-0 lead. Verdugo later singled to left field for his second hit of the night.

Lancaster (31-28, 68-61) got on the board against Quakes' starter Trevor Oaks (1-0) in the fifth inning. Brian Holborton tripled to right field and scored on Ruben Castro's single to left, trimming the deficit to 3-1.

Oaks, a right-hander from Riverside, pitched five innings, allowing one run, six hits and a walk while striking out one as he earned his first victory at the High-A level.

Verdugo, listed by Baseball America as the fifth-best prospect in the Dodgers' system, stroked a double to left field in the seventh inning against reliever Ryan Thompson for his third hit of the contest. He was unable to score, however, as Rancho Cucamonga maintained a 3-1 advantage.

The Quakes blew the game open and made some history in the eighth inning. Joey Curletta started the rally with a double to right-center field against Thompson. Garlick singled to right, plating Curletta. With right-hander Andrew Walter in from the bullpen for the JetHawks, Cody Bellinger walked and Ogle was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Verdugo drove a bases-clearing triple to center field to complete the cycle, the first by a Rancho Cucamonga player since Angelo Songco achieved the feat on May 25th, 2011 at Lancaster. It was the fourth cycle in the California League this season, as the left-handed batter joined Visalia's Todd Glaesmann (April 14th vs. San Jose), Lancaster's Marc Wik (June 2nd vs. High Desert) and Lancaster's A.J. Reed (June 16th vs. Visalia) on that list.

Verdugo finished the night 4-for-4 with a walk, four RBIs and two runs scored.

The inning continued as Paul Hoenecke roped a double to right-center field, chasing Verdugo home to give the Quakes an 8-1 cushion. They sent nine men to the plate in the eighth inning, scoring five runs on four hits.

Rancho Cucamonga flexed its muscle again in the ninth inning against Walter. Curletta walked and Bellinger launched a two-run homer for his 29th of the season, extending the lead to 10-1. The 20-year-old from Chandler, AZ is now on an eight-game hitting streak and has driven in at least one run in six consecutive games.

Lancaster scored once more in the bottom of the ninth against reliever Joe Broussard. Wik drew a leadoff walk. Holborton singled to left, placing runners at first and second. Castro grounded into a double play as Wik moved to third. James Ramsay doubled down the left field line, scoring Wik to make it a 10-2 contest. Alex Bregman fittingly hit a fly ball to Verdugo for the game's final out.

The Quakes improve to 3-4 on the current road trip and have a chance to earn a split in the four-game series at Lancaster on Thursday night. Rancho Cucamonga will send right-hander Scott Barlow (7-2, 2.45 ERA) to the mound, while the JetHawks counter with right-hander David Paulino (0-1, 7.04 ERA). First pitch at The Hangar is scheduled for 6:30 pm. You can follow all the action on FOX Sports 1350 AM, beginning with the LoanMart Pregame Show at 6:15.

The Quakes will return to LoanMart Field on Friday, August 28th, to open a three-game series against San Jose. The series opener against the Giants will be a Family RV $1 Family Feast Night! Enjoy $1 hot dogs, 12-ounce Pepsi products and ice cream sandwiches, all thanks to Family RV! It's also Back to School Night, as we celebrate the new school year.

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!