Gray Dominates in First Quakes' Win

Lake Elsinore, CA - In the rubber game of a three-game, two-day series, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes took care of the Lake Elsinore Storm with a convincing 5-1 win on Wednesday night.
Josiah Gray stole the spotlight from MLB rehabber Dinelson Lamet, with what proved to be Gray's best start in a Rancho uniform, while the offense was carried by the strength of a four-run top-of-the-third inning.
Devin Mann got the scoring started in the very first frame of the ballgame with his team-leading 32nd RBI, singling home Donovan Casey, who led off the game with a single of his own.
In the top of the third, the Quakes' offense exploded with a crooked number on the backs of three-straight run-scoring plate appearances, to make it a 5-0 tally in favor of Rancho. Jeren Kendall walked with the bases loaded, Connor Wong brought home two with a single and Marcus Chiu plated another with an RBI knock. Nine hitters appeared in the inning, as two of the four runs went to the rehabber Lamet, and the other two went to reliever Will Headean.
The Storm plated an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh inning, failing to add more when Connor Strain struck out Esteury Ruiz with a couple runners in scoring position.
The unearned run fell on the shoulders of Gray (1-0), who completed his fourth start as a Quake with a stellar final line of six innings, eight strikeouts, two walks, and just two hits. The New Rochelle, NY native grasped his first win as a member of the Rancho rotation.
Lamet (0-1), a member of the Padres' starting rotation in 2017, took the loss as he lasted 2.2 innings, allowing three earned runs with five strikeouts.
With Lancaster falling on Wednesday afternoon to San Jose by a final score of 1-0, the Quakes head into Thursday's action with a three-game lead over the second-place JetHawks and a 4.5-game cushion on the Storm.
On Thursday, May 30th, the Quakes return home to face Inland Empire to start a four-game series, as Punch Bowl Social presents Thirsty Thursday, featuring drink specials throughout the night. RHP Edwin Uceta (3-0) will toe the slab for Rancho, while the Quakes will face a second-consecutive MLB rehabber in the form of JC Ramírez (0-0). Purchase tickets online at rcquakes.com or by calling (909) 481-5000. Go Quakes!