The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes clinched the Cal League South division first-half title on Tuesday night, qualifying for the playoffs for the fifth straight year. A loss by second-place Lancaster officially locked up the first half title for Rancho, who went on to beat Inland Empire, 7-5.
The win gave the Quakes a season-high five-game winning streak and stretched their lead in the division to seven games. Remarkable about Rancho Cucamonga’s 39-24 record is that they did their damage on the road. While their home record sits at 14-14, the Quakes are 25-10 away from LoanMart Field.
The visiting Quakes scored two runs in the top of the ninth as DH Jeren Kendall homered to break a 5-5 tie and C Connor Wong doubled in SS Jeter Downs to make it 7-5. Releiver Max Gamboa (3-1) had come on with one out in the 8th and finished it off to earn the win.
Rancho Cucamonga is the defending Cal League champion and will join the Visalia Rawhide in the playoffs as first-half winners. The rest of the playoff field will be decided by the second-half results.
