Early Lead Not Enough For Rancho
Rancho Cucamonga, CA - Rancho jumped out to an early lead on Saturday night, but a big seventh inning for High Desert was too much for the Quakes to overcome in an 8-5 loss. With the defeat, Rancho is out of first place in the South Division for the first time in the Second Half.
Rancho Cucamonga (20-15, 52-53) was stymied for the first three innings by High Desert's Scott DeCecco (6-9, 5.47). DeCecco retired the first 11 men he faced before giving up a two-out double to Jeremy Rathjen in the fourth inning. Chris Jacobs followed with a two-run home run to left field that put the Quakes up 2-0. The long ball was Jacobs' team-leading 21st of the year.
Chris Anderson managed to allow just one run in five innings despite walking a season-high seven batters. The righty got High Desert (17-18, 51-54) to strand the bases loaded twice.
Anderson was taken out after five innings in favor of Geoff Brown (4-5, 5.19). In the sixth inning, Brown retired the first two Mavs he faced before a Steven Proscia error allowed Travis Witherspon to reach base. Brown then walked Lonnie Kauppila on four pitches before giving up a two-run double to Zach Shank that gave High Desert a 3-2 edge.
The Mavericks exploded for five runs in the seventh inning against Brown. Two singles and an error loaded the bases for Burt Reynolds, who drove in a pair with a single. On the very next pitch, Travis Witherspoon launched a three-run home run off of the left-field foul pole that gave the Mavs an 8-2 edge.
Rancho answered in the seventh with three runs. With two on and two outs, James Baldwin hit a bouncer to shortstop Tyler Smith. Smith's throw to first was off the mark, allowing Aaron Miller and Steven Proscia. Casio Grider drove in Baldwin with a base hit to left field that pulled Rancho within three.
The Quakes got no closer, leaving four men aboard in the game's final three innings. The loss was Rancho's eighth in a row at LoanMart Field. They fell game back of Lake Elsinore in the Second Half standings.
The series concludes on Sunday evening at LoanMart Field. The 17-year-old Julio Urias (1-1, 3.25) and the Quakes will try to avoid a sweep against High Desert righty Dylan Unsworth (5-8, 6.48). First pitch is at 5:05 pm and the game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports AM 1350 starting with the LoanMart Pregame Report at 4:50 pm.=
Sunday's contest is a Dignity Health Fun in the Sun-day at LoanMart Field! The first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive a free 2014 Quakes Team Photo thanks to Dignity Health! Tickets are still available by calling (909) 481-5000 or online at rcquakes.com. We hope to see you soon at LoanMart Field! Go Quakes!