Before the game was good news for the Quakes; outfielder Leon Landry became an all-star injury replacement for High Desert’s Julio Morban. Landry is batting .329 with three home runs, 16 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.

And of course, it was Landry at the plate with the game on the line in the ninth inning: trailing by a run with runners on second and third and two outs. But Landry couldn’t beat out a grounder to second, and the Quakes’ 8-game winning streak ended with a 3-2 loss to Lancaster at the Epicenter.

With the loss, the Quakes (35-31) drop into a tie for first with Lake Elsinore (35-31), which beat High Desert 7-4. Lancaster and High Desert are one game back with identical 34-32 records.

Lancaster had snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth when Domingo Santana scored from third on a pickoff throwing error from Scott McGough (2-3).

Believe it or not, the 66ers (now 31-35) still had a chance at the playoffs entering the game. Yet that chance ended with a thud, losing a 14-2 decision to San Jose that put the Sixers looking to the second half.