Rancho Cucamonga, CA- Cristian Santana's walk-off grand slam served as the ultimate recovery on Tuesday night, as the Quakes surrendered a seven-run lead but withstood the Lake Elsinore Storm 13-9 at LoanMart Field.The grand slam capped off a six-RBI night for the third baseman, who finished 4-for-6 in the lengthy
Rancho Cucamonga, CA- Cristian Santana's walk-off grand slam served as the ultimate recovery on Tuesday night, as the Quakes surrendered a seven-run lead but withstood the Lake Elsinore Storm 13-9 at LoanMart Field.
The grand slam capped off a six-RBI night for the third baseman, who finished 4-for-6 in the lengthy three-and-a-half hour contest. The home run was Santana's 21st of the year, as he now moves into a tie for the league lead in round-trippers. He also has 95 RBIs to lead the circuit, after his six-RBI night.
The Storm scored seven unanswered over the later innings and opened the ninth knotted at nine. Connor Strain (3-2) entered from the bullpen and struck out the side to swing the momentum in Rancho's favor.
Hamlet Marte walked against Blake Rodgers (3-3) and was replaced on the base paths by Saige Jenco. Jenco advanced to third on a Jared Walker double and Omar Estevez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Cody Thomas struck out and with two away, Santana leveled the no-doubt shot into the left-center field pine trees for the win.
Rancho gathered an early lead against starting pitcher Reggie Lawson with five runs over the first three innings. Santana singled home Estevez in the first while Brandon Montgomery contributed with an RBI-triple in the second. Lawson gave up three more hits in the third including a Carlos Rincon RBI-double and was lifted from the game after 2.1 innings. Montgomery grounded out and scored Donovan Casey to exit the third with a 5-1 lead.
Starting pitcher Edwin Uceta allowed just two hits, solo home runs to Ruddy Giron and Jorge Oña, over 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander struck out ten batters and settled with a no-decision after Lake Elsinore tied the game in the eighth.
Rancho scored a pair in the fifth and the sixth to give Michael Boyle a sizable 9-2 lead entering the seventh. Lake Elsinore loaded the bases on a walk, single and throwing error before Nate Easley drew ball four to bring home a run. Edward Olivares drove in Rod Boykin with a groundout and Luis Torrens capped the five-run inning with a three-run home run. All five runs in the seventh were unearned to the line of Boyle.
Parker Curry relinquished the 9-7 advantage in the eight, allowing RBI-singles to Easley and Edward Olivares that evened the game before Rancho's heroics.
Rancho's offense finished with 18 total hits, including three each from Omar Estevez, Cody Thomas, and Hamlet Marte, to compliment Santana's team-high four.
The win is Rancho's seventh straight at home and also seventh in a row over Lake Elsinore. The Quakes will welcome back Dodgers LHP Julio Urías (0-0) on Wednesday, who joins the club for his second start on major league rehab assignment. Lake Elsinore will counter with RHP Ronald Bolaños (5-8). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
Enjoy the game with your four-legged friends on Terra Vista Animal Hospital Bark in the Ballpark Wednesday! Pet passes are available at the ticket office for a $3 donation going to the RC Animal Care and Adoption Center or for free at Terra Vista Animal Hospital. Tickets are available at rcquakes.com or by calling (909) 481-5000.
