Win Streak Stopped at Nine in Lancaster
Lancaster, CA - Rancho's nine-game win streak came to an end on Saturday night, as the Quakes lost 6-5 to the Lancaster JetHawks at the Hangar. The Quakes fought back to make it a one-run game late, but left the tying run on second base in the final inning.
Rancho Cucamonga (14-2, 46-40) trailed by as many as four in the game. It was 6-3 in favor of Lancaster (6-10, 50-36) in the eighth inning before Steven Proscia launched a two-run shot to left-center field. His 11th home run of the year made it a one-run game. Proscia finished the night 2-for-4 with three runs batted in.
Still down by a run in the ninth inning, Leo Rodriguez led off against Daniel Minor with an infield single. Brandon Dixon sacrificed him over to second base, putting the tying run in scoring position for the middle of the Quakes' lineup. Corey Seager and Chris Jacobs both struck out to end the game and Rancho's win streak.
The Quakes took an early lead on Brandon Dixon's solo home run off of Lance McCullers in the first inning, but it did not last long. The JetHawks scored three runs off of Fabio Martinez (4-4, 4.89) in the first inning and led the rest of the way. Martinez gave up four runs on five hits while walking five in four innings of work.
The JetHawks scored a pair of runs off of Geoff Brown, who pitched three innings in relief. The deciding run ultimately came on Roberto Pena's seventh-inning home run. It was his sixth homer of the year, and five have come against Rancho Cucamonga.
The Quakes had 11 hits to Lancaster's eight, but it wasn't enough to stretch the streak to 10 games. The nine-game streak ties Stockton for the longest of any Cal League team in 2014. The loss was Rancho's first since June 24 in High Desert, and the team has only dropped two of its last 17 contests.
Rancho will try to start a new streak on Sunday in the third of a four-game series in Lancaster. Jharel Cotton (2-5, 6.37) starts for Rancho against righty Matt Heidenreich (2-2, 4.63). First pitch from The Hangar is at 5:00 pm and the game will be broadcast live on Fox Sports AM 1350 starting with the LoanMart Pregame Report at 4:45 pm.
Rancho returns home for a seven-game home stand Tuesday, July 8 against Lake Elsinore. It's a Healthy RC Recycle Tuesday! Bring 10 CRV-eligible bottles and cans to LoanMart Field and receive a free club-level ticket to the game! Tickets are still available by calling (909) 481-5000 or online at rcquakes.com. We hope to see you at LoanMart Field in the Second Half! Go Quakes!