Quakes Fall to Mavs; Game 5 Wednesday

Rancho Cucamonga failed to end High Desert's season and clinch a spot in the California League Championship Series, falling 13-6 against the Mavericks at Heritage Field on Tuesday night.

With the victory, High Desert (4-3) forces a winner-take-all Game 5 at LoanMart Field on Wednesday night.

The Mavericks grabbed the lead in the second inning against Quakes' starter Rob Rogers (0-1). Royce Bolinger led off the frame with an infield single. Seth Spivey grounded into a fielder's choice as Bolinger was forced out at second. Ronald Guzman singled to center field. Alberto Triunfel walked, loading the bases. Chris Garia blooped a double down the left field line, scoring Spivey and Guzman. Isiah Kiner-Falefa delivered a double down the third-base line, plating Triunfel and Garia to make it 4-0.

Rancho Cucamonga (2-2) used the long ball to storm back in the top of the fourth against High Desert starter Trey Lambert (2-0), who retired the first nine men he faced. Tim Locastro led off the inning with a solo homer inside the left field foul pole for his first of the postseason. Cody Bellinger doubled to center, extending his playoff hitting streak to four straight games. Alex Verdugo clubbed a two-run home run to center field, trimming the deficit to 4-3.

High Desert answered against Rogers in the bottom of the fourth. Triunfel drew a one-out walk. Garia singled to right field, setting up runners at first and second. Kiner-Falefa hit a ground ball to first base, but Garia blocked Bellinger from seeing it. The ball bounced off of Bellinger's mitt and into shallow right field, allowing Triunfel to race home. Evan Van Hoosier doubled to right field, chasing Garia and Kiner-Falefa home.

With Jose Molina in from the bullpen, Joe Jackson grounded out, allowing Van Hoosier to advance to third. Bolinger's grounder to third resulted in a fielding error by Paul Hoenecke, with Van Hoosier trotting home to complete the four-run frame and give the Mavericks an 8-3 cushion.

The Quakes flexed their muscles again in the top of the fifth against Lambert. Hoenecke drilled a solo home run to left-center field, clipping the bottom of the scoreboard. Joey Curletta then launched a solo blast to left-center for back-to-back homers, making it an 8-5 contest. For Curletta, it was his second home run in as many games.

Lambert lasted five innings for the Mavericks, giving up five runs and six hits, four of which were homers. The right-hander struck out seven in the win.

Rancho Cucamonga continued to creep closer in the sixth inning against reliever Anyelo Leclerc. Jacob Scavuzzo doubled down the left field line. Verdugo singled to left, setting up runners at the corners. Tyler Ogle singled up the middle, scoring Scavuzzo to cut the deficit to 8-6.

High Desert regained control in the bottom of the seventh. With Molina still pitching, Spivey led off the inning with a single. Guzman doubled to center field, placing runners at second and third. Karch Kowalczyk was summoned from the Quakes' bullpen. Triunfel walked to load the bases, then Garia walked to force in Spivey from third. Van Hoosier reached on an infield single to shortstop, plating Guzman, but Locastro's wild throw to second resulted in an error as Triunfel hustled home for an 11-6 lead.

The Mavericks put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth. With Dillon Moyer pitching in relief, Spivey and Guzman drew back-to-back walks. Spivey advanced to third on a wild pitch and Guzman stole second, placing two runners in scoring position. Triunfel delivered a single to center field, scoring Spivey and Guzman to extend the advantage to 13-6.

Right-hander Dakota Watts closed out the contest with two scoreless innings to force the decisive Game 5.

Scoring the first run has been at a premium during the entire series. Each team that has plated the initial run has gone on to win all four games in the South Division Finals.

The Quakes face a win-or-go-home scenario on Wednesday night as they host High Desert in Game 5, with the victor facing either Visalia or San Jose in the California League Championship Series. Rancho Cucamonga will send right-hander A.J. Vanegas (3-1, 2.59 ERA in regular season) to the mound, while the Mavericks counter with right-hander David Perez (1-0, 2.25 ERA in postseason). First pitch at LoanMart Field is scheduled for 7:05 pm. If you can't make it to the game, you can follow all the action on FOX Sports 1350 AM, beginning with the LoanMart Pregame Show at 6:50.

Tickets for the winner-take-all Game 5 against High Desert are available at rcquakes.com, at the LoanMart Field box office and by calling (909) 481-5000. We hope to see you very soon at LoanMart Field…Go Quakes!