Quakes Lose Lead Late, Fall to High Desert

Adelanto, CA - High Desert scored three runs in the eighth inning to tie Rancho before walking off with a 5-4 victory over the Quakes on Tuesday night at Heritage Field. With two outs in the ninth, Burt Reynolds scored Gabriel Guerrero with a single to center field to complete the comeback.

Rancho Cucamonga (25-20, 57-58) got off to a fast start, scoring a run in the first and two more in the second. With one out, Rob Garvey stole third base and scored on a throwing error by High Desert's Toby DeMello. Garvey came up with the bases loaded in the second and smacked a two-run double to give the Quakes an early 3-0 lead.

The Quakes did not get much else offensively in the game. Five of their eight hits came in the first two innings of the contest.

High Desert (21-23, 55-59) couldn't push a run across against Rancho starter Tom Windle. The lefty struck out three and gave up three hits in five scoreless innings, but he was left with a no-decision. 

The Mavs finally got on the board against the Rancho bullpen. In the sixth inning, Gabriel Guerrero's single to right field off of Dan Tillman scored Travis Witherspoon to cut Rancho's lead to two.

Aaron Miller made it a three-run game again with a solo shot off of Oliver Garcia (1-0, 4.21) in the eighth inning. The home run was Miller's 11th of the year, and his third extra-base hit in the first two games of the series.

Rancho's 4-1 edge did not last long. Gustavo Gomez walked the bases loaded with one out in the eighth, and all three men would score. Rob Rogers (2-6, 4.64) replaced Gomez and gave up a two-run single to Tyler Marlette before allowing an RBI groundout to tie the game at four.

Rogers came back out for the ninth, but couldn't close the door on the Mavericks. After retiring the first two hitters, Rogers gave up a single to Gabriel Guerrero. Jabari Henry then reached on an error, setting the table for High Desert. Burt Reynolds smacked a walk-off single over the head of James Baldwin in centerfield to give the Mavs a 5-4 win.

The loss was Rancho's fourth in a row on the heels of four straight wins, but the Quakes remain tied with Lancaster atop the South Division in the Second Half at 25-20. 

The Quakes will look to avoid a sweep in their final game of the regular season at Heritage Field on Wednesday night. Rancho sends Chris Anderson (7-6, 4.70) to the mound against High Desert lefty Scott DeCecco (6-9, 5.29). First pitch from Adelanto is at 7:05 pm and the game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports AM 1350 starting with the LoanMart Pregame Report at 6:50 pm.

Rancho returns home on August 12 for a seven-game home stand starting with three games against the San Jose Giants. Tuesday, August 12 is a Healthy RC Recycle Tuesday! Bring 10 CRV-eligible bottles and cans to the ballpark and receive a free club-level ticket thanks to the City of Rancho Cucamonga and the Healthy RC Program! Wednesday, August 13 is a Terra Vista Animal Hospital Bark in the Ballpark! Bring your four-legged friend to the game for just $3, with proceeds going to the Rancho Cucamonga Animal Shelter. Thursday, August 14, is a Thirsty Thursday! Get 24-oz. Pepsi products and 16-oz. domestic drafts for just $2 while 16-oz. premium drafts, wine, champagne and margaritas are only $3 thanks to Bernards Construction! Tickets are still available by calling (909) 481-5000 or online at rcquakes.com. We hope to see you at LoanMart Field for the next home stand! Go Quakes!