Quakes Crack The Nuts In Series Opener

Rancho Cucamonga, CA- A pair of big innings jumped the Quakes to a sizable advantage over the Modesto Nuts on Saturday night, as Rancho took game one of the series at LoanMart Field, 11-5.
Modesto out-hit Rancho on the game but walked five and plunked three as the Quakes capitalized on free base-runners.
Gavin Lux opened with a leadoff homer in the first and Modesto evened the score with a run in the top of the second.
The first big inning of the night came in the Quakes' half of the second, as they sent eight men to the plate against Darren McCaughan (4-8). Following a quick two outs, Jared Walker was hit by a pitch and came home to score on a Steve Berman double. Zach McKinstry followed with a walk and jumped the Quakes back to the top of the order. Lux and Omar Estevez linked together back-to-back RBI-singles, plating three more runs for a 5-1 lead.
Walker homered off of the right-field foul pole in the fourth to make it 6-1, his third home run in as many games.
Modesto pressed to a 6-4 deficit in the fifth, scoring three runs, two earned, against starting pitcher Leo Crawford. Crawford (2-0) completed five innings with 91 total pitches to his line, walking one and striking out six in the win.
Nine more batters would step to the dish in the sixth as Rancho blew the game open. A walk and a pair of hit batsmen loaded the bases to begin the inning. McKinstry rolled into a fielder's choice forcing out Landon at the plate and Lux then followed with a bases-loaded walk.
With the bases still juiced, Estevez singled, Cody Thomas drove in a run on a fielders choice and Cristian Santana capped the five-run inning with a 2-RBI hit.
After tossing a scoreless sixth, Jason Richman entered in the seventh with an 11-4 lead and held the Modesto offense quiet. Evan White capped a three-RBI night with a run-scoring single against Ryan Moseley in the eighth, closing the score at 11-5.
With the win the Quakes improve to 59-41 on the season and a Cal League best 24-6 during the second half. RHP Isaac Anderson is scheduled to start for the Quakes in game two of the series on Sunday while Modesto's starting pitcher will be a game time decision. First pitch is at 2:05 PM
The Quakes will turn into Los Temblores de Rancho Cucamonga on the field as apart of the California League Fun Cup. Tickets are available online at rcquakes.com or by calling (909) 481-5000.