Quakes Shutout 66ers To Open Series

San Bernardino, CA- The Quakes' pitching staff silenced Inland Empire in the Friday night series opener, cruising to a 5-0 shut-out victory over the 66ers.
The shutout was the Quakes tenth of the season over an opponent, good for the most in the California League.
Rancho opened the scoring against major league rehabber Nick Tropeano in the second inning. Connor Wong and Zach McKinstry punched back-to-back doubles to give the Quakes a 1-0 lead.
In the third, Logan Landon knocked a base hit into center that got past 66ers outfielder Brandon Marsh. Rylan Bannon would come around to score from first base and provide an unearned run to make it 2-zip Quakes.
Zach McKinstry homered off of Tropeano (1-1) in the fourth, his first home run as a Quake to extend the advantage up to 3-0.
Reliever Mike Kaelin entered on for Inland Empire in the fifth and walked Bannon to begin the inning. Landon then hammered a two-run home run, his eleventh of the season to cap the scoring at 5-0.
On the mound, Parker Curry (6-1) allowed just three hits over five shut-out frames, striking out five while locking up his team-high sixth victory of the season. Ben Holmes followed with one hit over three shut-out innings and Jason Richman closed the affair with a scoreless ninth.
With the win, the Quakes are now 20-3 over the second half of play and remain seven games atop the south division over Lancaster. Rancho is also a season-best 17 games over .500 overall, at 55-38.
LHP Leo Crawford (2-0, 3.18 ERA) will start game two of the series on Saturday night and be opposed by fellow south-paw Nate Bertness (2-7, 5.84 ERA) of Inland Empire.
Rancho returns to LoanMart Field on Wednesday, July 18^th to host the San Jose Giants in a three-game series and the opening of a six-game home stand. It will be a Bark in the Park Wednesday at LoanMart Field with $3 pet passes available at the ticket office. Game tickets are available at rcquakes.com or by calling (909) 481-5000.