Quakes Score Early, Often as Ports Drop Series Opener

STOCKTON, Ca. – The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes pounded out 11 hits and put the Ports into a 6-0 hole after the second inning as Stockton fell 11-6 in the series opener on Tuesday night at Banner Island Ballpark.

For the fourth game in a row the Ports (19-33) fell behind after the first inning. With Jake Vogel on second base after a double, Damon Keith homered to the Jackson Rancheria Back Porch in right field to give Rancho Cucamonga a 2-0 lead.

The Quakes (29-23) added four more runs in the top of the second inning with a two-out rally against Ports’ starter James Gonzalez. With two outs and nobody on, nine-hitter Kenneth Betancourt drew a four-pitch walk and scored when leadoff man Austin Gauthier doubled off the center field wall to make it 3-0 Quakes. Two hit by pitches loaded the bases, and a passed ball allowed Gauthier to score to extend the Rancho Cucamonga lead to 4-0. The Quakes’ advantage grew to 6-0 when Luis Rodriguez drove a double to center field to score two more runs.

With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the second, Jhoan Paulino got the Ports on the board with a solo shot to left field off Quakes’ starter Ronan Kopp to make it 6-1.

The Ports closed the gap to 6-4 with three more runs in the third inning. Junior Perez led off with a walk against Quakes reliever Jhan Zambrano and advanced to third on a double down the right field line by Jalen Greer. Max Muncy drew a walk to load the bases with nobody out and Denzel Clarke followed with another walk to force in a run to make it 6-2. After Kevin Richards struck out, Shane McGuire lifted a sacrifice fly to left center to cut the deficit too 6-3. With two outs and runners on the corners the Ports then executed a double steal with Clarke swiping second and Muncy stealing home to get Stockton to within two at 6-4.

With the Ports bullpen on for the top of the fourth the Quakes offered a swift response, plating three to reclaim a five-run lead. Gauthier led off with a double off Alexis Cedano and scored on a single to left field by Jake Vogel. After a groundout moved Vogel to third, Damon Keith followed with an inside-the-park home run to left center field to make it 9-4 Rancho Cucamonga.

Down 11-4 in the eighth, the Ports tallied two more runs ono two hits to cut the Quakes’ lead to five again. After a one-out walk to Shane McGuire, CJ Rodriguez doubled down the right field line to put runners on second and third with one out. Paulino followed with a single to left field to plate McGuire and put runners on the corners, making it 11-5. Robert Puason then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to cut the Rancho Cucamonga lead to 11-6.

The Ports managed a baserunner on a one-out walk in the top of the ninth but failed to score, ending the ballgame.

Adolfo Ramirez (1-0) got the win for the Quakes, firing 2.2 scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Gonzalez took the loss for the Ports, giving up six runs on five hits in three innings.

The Ports and Quakes continue their six-game series on Wednesday night at Banner Island Ballpark with first pitch at 7:05 pm. Tickets are available at stocktonports.com or by calling (209) 644-1900.