Quakes Ride Early Power Surge, Topple Tower Buzzers 13-5

ONTARIO, Calif. – Rancho Cucamonga wasted no time setting the tone Tuesday night. They hammered four home runs and leaned on a lights-out performance from lefty Talon Haley to cruise past the Ontario Tower Buzzers, 13-5, opening the six-game set with an exclamation point.

With the first half of the California League season winding down, Rancho sent a clear message. They moved to 35-29, while Ontario dropped to an even 32-32.

The action heated up in the second inning. Kevyn Castillo got things rolling, smashing a two-run shot to right that brought home Ryland Zaborowski and put the Quakes up 2-0.

But Rancho really blew the game open in the third. Anyelo Marquez and Hayden Alvarez both singled to start the frame. Jonny McGill reached after getting hit, loading the bases for Kendrey Maduro, who jumped on the first pitch and crushed a grand slam. Just like that, the Quakes had a 6-0 cushion.

They weren’t done. A throwing error and a wild pitch set the table for Castillo again, and he delivered his second homer of the night, a two-run blast to right-center that made it 8-0.

Ontario starter Mason Estrada took the loss, giving up eight runs (seven earned) and seven hits in three innings. Rancho's lineup barely let up, capitalizing on the smallest mistakes.

The Quakes tacked on four more in the fifth. Gabriel Davalillo plated a run with a sacrifice fly, and Marquez followed with a three-run homer, stretching the lead to 12-0.

Meanwhile, Haley absolutely carved up the Tower Buzzers. The 20-year-old southpaw got his first win of the year behind five shutout frames, allowing just one hit and two walks while fanning eight. Ontario couldn’t touch him and didn’t manage another hit until the eighth inning.

That’s when the Tower Buzzers finally showed some life. Conner O’Neal drew a leadoff walk, Mairo Martinus tripled him home, and Ching-Hsien Ko knocked in another run with a hit. Chase Harlan then capped the rally with a two-run homer, his ninth of the year. Ontario plated four in the inning to cut the gap to 13-4.

They grabbed one more in the ninth when Joendry Vargas singled and scored on Oswaldo Osorio’s RBI knock, which was Osorio’s first California League RBI and hit

Ko finished his night 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Harlan collected two RBIs on his homer, Martinus added a triple and a run driven in, and O’Neal reached base twice.

As for Rancho, Castillo nearly couldn’t be stopped; he went 3-for-4 with two homers, five RBIs, and three runs scored. Maduro added a grand slam and a triple, driving in four. Marquez chipped in three hits and three RBIs.

These two teams get back at it Wednesday night in Ontario at 6:35 PM