Offense Explodes, Rancho Holds on Late in Wild Win

Rancho Cucamonga, CA- If you like runs, you would have liked this game.
The Quakes bested Stockton, 11-7, on Tuesday night at LoanMart Field in a crazy, back-and-forth game.
After scoring six runs in a loss on Monday, Rancho kept the scoring going in game two of the series. The 11 runs were its most since July 25^th in an 11-4 win against Lancaster.
Early on, the Quakes seemed to build a decisive lead off of starter Norge Ruiz, but it did not hold. In the first inning, Luke Raley started the scoring with an RBI single that plated Dodger rehabber Adrián González. Gonzalez finished 1-for-4 on the night with a walk and two runs as the designated hitter.
Keibert Ruiz then laced a two-run single to right-center and Brandon Montgomery gave the Quakes a 4-0 lead with an RBI groundout.
Mikey White homered off of Jordan Sheffield to find the scoreboard for Stockton in the top of the second before Sandber Pimentel and Eli White knocked in runs with RBI hits in the third to cut the deficit to 4-3.
In the bottom of the third, Rancho answered back with two runs of their own on a Zach Reks RBI single and a sacrifice fly by Montgomery.
The Ports tied the game at 6-6 in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Athletic rehabber Jake Smolinski, a wild pitch that scored Mikey White and another RBI single by Pimentel to chase Sheffield.
The Quakes' starter struggled in his second outing for the Quakes. Sheffield lasted just three and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on eight hits while striking out three and walking five.
The ping-pong game continued as the Quakes struck for three more runs in the bottom half of the fourth to take a 9-6 lead. After Zach McKinstry doubled home Jose Brizuela to give the Quakes the lead, Omar Estevez scored McKinstry on an RBI single. DJ Peters then blasted a 3-0 pitch into the gap in left-center for an RBI double that plated Gonzalez.
The Quakes added insurance in the fifth with Estevez and Raley RBI singles to make it 11-6.
Raley finished the night 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. It was his second four-hit game of the year and the eighth time a Quake collected four hits in a game this season.
The Ports' Pimentel took Sven Schueller deep for a home run in the seventh and Stockton added a pair of runs in the ninth off of Nolan Long, but the comeback fell short.
Schueller (1-0) threw three and a third innings, only allowing the one run and one hit while striking out three and walking one in the win.
Ruiz (3-1) took the loss for the Ports, going three and two-thirds innings, allowing nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits while striking out two and walking three.
Both Lancaster and Inland Empire also won on Tuesday, so the Quakes still have a two-game lead over the JetHawks and a three-game lead over the 66ers with 18 games remaining in the second half.
Rancho Cucamonga (31-21, 67-55) will match-up with Stockton (24-28, 60-62) for game three of the series on Wednesday, August 16th, at 7:05 pm. Rancho is expected to turn to left-hander Michael Boyle (4-5), while the Ports will send righty Angel Duno (8-7) to the mound.
Wednesday's game will be will be Terra Vista Animal Hospital Bark in the Ballpark Night! Four-legged friends are welcome at LoanMart Field on this great night, thanks to Terra Vista Animal Hospital. Pet Passes cost just $3, with proceeds to benefit the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Shelter. Tickets are available for Wednesday's game and all Quakes' home games at 909-481-5000 or rcquakes.com. Go Quakes!