Rough First Inning Blows Quakes Off Course Against Tower Buzzers

Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. – The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (20-27, 56-57) could not cool the Ontario Tower Buzzers (27-20, 60-53) down in the opening moments of their Saturday night contest at Morongo Field, ultimately taking a 9-1 defeat.

The Tower Buzzers locked in at the plate right away, resulting in a crooked number in the top of the first. They rallied for seven runs on six hits and two walks, forcing Rancho Cucamonga to overcome a sizeable deficit before stepping into the batter’s box for the first time.

Immediately following the big inning, the Quakes bounced back on the mound. Major League rehabber Yusei Kikuchi fanned eight batters in his 4.2-inning outing, and Alex Martinez backed it up by tossing 2.1 scoreless frames of his own. Andres Cova fired a shutout eighth, and Marco Vega fanned both Tower Buzzers he faced in the ninth, limiting the visitors to just two runs over their final eight turns at bat.

Rancho Cucamonga drew seven walks against the Ontario pitching staff, but their breakthrough came via the long ball in the bottom of the eighth. Gavin Grahovac connected on a solo home run to dead center field, his second of the season and first at Morongo Field.

The Quakes have one more chance to lock down a series win over the Tower Buzzers in the finale on Sunday at 6:30 PM. RHP C.J. Gray takes the mound for Rancho Cucamonga opposite RHP Cam Leiter. In addition to Wyndham Sunday Fun Day at Morongo Field, fans can take home a piece of history with a 2026 team photo giveaway, presented by Millennium Systems. Kids will have the opportunity to run the bases postgame, courtesy of San Antonio Regional Hospital.