Rancho Cucamonga’s offense lit up the scoreboard early and five pitchers combined to silence Lake Elsinore’s bats as the Quakes posted a 9-1 win on Friday night. It was the fifth straight win for Rancho Cucamonga (30-27) as they maintained their one-game lead over Inland Empire (29-28) in the South division.
2B Eddys Leonard singled in a run and LF Jonny Deluca hit a 2-run homer, his 12th, as the Quakes got out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning. SS Alex De Jesus launched a 3-run shot in the bottom of the second to make it 6-0. It was De Jesus’ 9th homer of the year.
The Storm got on the board in the third inning when a run came in from third on a wild pitch to cut the defecit to 6-1. But the Quakes came right back with two runs in the bottom of the third to go up 8-1. RF Ismael Alcantara capped off the scoring with his third homer of the season in the bottom of the fifth inning.
While Rancho Cucamonga’s offense was rolling, RHP Robbie Peto and four relievers allowed just the one run on five hits. Peto allowed a run on two hits and two walks with six strikeouts over the first three innings. RHP Daniel Cruz (W, 2-1) covered the fourth and the fifth, allowing no runs or hits while striking out three.
RHP Carlos De Los Santos threw two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three. LHP Julian Smith covered 1 2/3 IP and allowed two hits and two walks with two Ks.
RHP Carlos Alejo came on with two on and two out in the 9th to get the final out.
Lake Elsinore 2B Jordy Barley went 1-for-1 before leaving the game and stole two bases, increasing his Low-A West lead to 32. SS Euribiel Angeles stayed hot, going 1-for-2 with a double and extending his hitting streak to 17 games.
Rancho Cucamonga has won all four of the games in this series so far, with two more over the weekend. Their five-game win streak has kept them just ahead of Inland Empire as the 66ers are also riding a five-game win streak.
SCOREBOARD
FRESNO -6
SAN JOSE – 5
Box
Grizzlies get 3 runs in the top of the 9th to stun San Jose. Daniel Montano singles in a run and Colin Simpson belts a 2-run homer. Montano’s hitting streak extended to 18 games. RHP Blake Goldsberry with two clean innings for the win in relief. Grizzlies have won three of four in the series, teams tied atop the North at 37-21.
STOCKTON – 11
MODESTO – 5
Box
The Ports break open a scoreless game with 8 runs in the middle innings to win their second straight game against Modesto. CF Junior Perez goes 2-for-3 with 3 BBs and drives in two. RHP Oscar Tovar goes two scoreless, hitless innings for his 3rd save.
VISALIA – 3
INLAND EMPIRE – 7
Box
LHP Adam Seminaris (W, 2-3) goes 6 IP and allows a run on 6 hits and a walk with 9 Ks. C Carlos Reina goes 2-for-3 with 2 doubles and 2 RBIs. Fifth straight win for the 66ers (29-28) as they remain one game behind Rancho Cucamonga in the South.
