Modesto Holds On This Time
Modesto, CA - There would be no ninth-inning rally for the Quakes on Sunday evening, as the Modesto Nuts held on for a 6-4 win over Rancho Cucamonga, just one night after blowing their first ninth-inning lead this year.
The Quakes failed to make it three straight road wins overall, as Tyler Massey's three-run homer capped his 4-for-4 effort, giving Modesto the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Much like Saturday's game, the Quakes rallied from an early three-run deficit, as Quakes' starter Lindsey Caughel allowed three first-inning runs to put the Nuts up 3-0.
Rancho drew even in the third though, as Casio Grider smacked his first long-ball of the year, a two-run shot to make it 3-2. Bobby Coyle followed two batters later with a solo blast, evening the game at 3-3.
Scott Wingo's suicide squeeze brought home James McDonald in the top of the sixth, giving Rancho a temporary lead against eventual winner Geoff Parker (4-4) at 4-3.
Working with the lead for the first time on the night, Caughel (3-6) struggled to open the bottom of the inning, allowing back-to-back base-runners before getting Niko Gallego to bunt at a two-strike pitch for the first out of the inning.
Manager Carlos Subero chose to go get Freddie Cabrera to face Massey, who already singled against Caughel in his each of his first three at-bats. The strategy backfired though, as Massey drilled Cabrera's 3-2 pitch down the right-field line for his eighth long-ball of the year, putting Modesto up 6-4.
Scott Oberg, who blew the save on Saturday, turned it around on Sunday, working a 1-2-3 ninth for his league-leading 21st save of the year.
The Quakes (14-17, 45-56) will look for two of three in Modesto on Monday night and their fifth straight series win, as they send Jharel Cotton (0-0) to the mound in his Quakes' debut. Modesto will counter with Eddie Butler (3-3) in the rubber game of the three-game series, with game time scheduled for 7:05pm.
The Quakes return to LoanMart Field on Tuesday, July 23rd, opening a six-game home stand. Tuesday is Healthy RC Recycle Tuesday, as fans can bring ten CRV-eligible bottles and/or cans to the ticket office for a free Club Seat Ticket. Tickets are available by calling (909) 481-5000 or online at rcquakes.com. We hope to see you very soon at LoanMart Field. Go Quakes!