66ers beat Quakes in epic 13-inning game Wednesday

 

SAN BERNARDINO >> The 66ers have had little success against the Quakes this season.

But in a day game Wednesday at San Manuel Stadium, they showed some resiliency.

The Sixers rallied from an early deficit then David Fletcher’s bloop single with one out in the 13th inning scored Ayendy Perez with the winning run in a 5-4 victory over the Quakes.

The  victory in front of an announced crowd of 1,463 that dwindled to less than 100 by the game’s end, improved the record for the Sixers (29-55) to 4-13 vs. the Quakes (51-33) this season.

The Sixers had rallied from a 3-0 deficit with four runs in the seventh, capped by Taylor Ward’s two-out, two-run ground-rule double. The double would’ve scored a fifth run had it not bounced over the fence in center field.

“We took better at-bats in that inning,” said Fletcher, who also had an RBI single in the seventh.

“Pitches we normally hit, we were missing early in the game, but we didn’t in that inning,” Sixers manager Chad Tracy said.

The lead didn’t stick as Donovan Tate’s sacrifice fly in the ninth tied the score 4-4 for the Quakes and sent the game into extra innings.

Perez was 3 for 4 with two walks, two runs and an RBI while Ryan Sebra and Fletcher had three hits apiece for the Sixers.

Erick Mejia had three hits and scored twice and Edwin Rios had two hits and drove in two runs for the Quakes, who had beaten the Sixers in 11 innings Tuesday night. The Quakes had just one hit in 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position Wednesday, compared to 5-for-13 for the Sixers.

Quakes starter Tommy Bergjans’ record stayed 2-8 despite lowering his ERA to 4.79 by allowing three earned runs and striking out eight in 6 ⅓ innings. Sixers starter Justin Anderson came out after four innings after he felt “something weird” in the middle finger of his pitching hand but Tracy said it was only precautionary and he expects Anderson  to make his next start.

California League 2015 post-season all-star team announced

Cody Bellinger running

The Quakes’ Cody Bellinger rounds the bases on Aug. 3.

The 2015 California League post-season all-star team was announced on Friday, and both the Quakes and 66ers were represented on the team.
The Quakes’ Tyler Ogle was named the catcher on the squad. Through Thursday, he was batting just .255, but belted 19 home runs and 64 RBIs in 94 games. He was especially effective against right-handers, batting .342 with seven home runs in 79 at-bats.
Cody Bellinger, primarily a first baseman for the Quakes, was named the designated hitter on the squad. Like Ogle, Bellinger’s batting average is not high: .256. But also like Ogle, he’s had success with the long ball, hitting 26 home runs and driving in 87 runs in 114 games. He hasn’t played since last Saturday after taking a pitch off his hand.

The 66ers’ Eric Aquilera, who has played mostly first base, but also some left and right field for the team, was named the utility player on the squad. Aguilera is batting .333 with 16 home runs and 90 RBIs while stealing 13 bases in 113 games.
In addition, Quakes  groundskeeper Rex Whitney was named the league’s “Turf Manager of the Year.”

Here is the complete list of honorees:

Manager of the Year: J.R. House, Visalia
Coach of the Year: Gil Heredia, Visalia
Turf manager of the Year: Rex Whitney, Quakes
Clubhouse manager of the Year: Vic Zapien, Stockton
MVP: A.J. Reed, Lancaster
Pitcher of the Year: Antonio Senzatela, Modesto
Rookie of the Year: A.J. Reed, Lancaster
Catcher: Tyler Ogle, Quakes
First base: A.J. Reed, Lancaster
Second base: Jamie Westbrook, Visalia
Third base: Ryan McMahon, Modesto
Shortstop: Christian Arroyo, San Jose
Utility: Eric Aguilera, 66ers
Designated hitter: Cody Bellinger, Quakes
Outfield: Brett Phillips, Lancaster
Outfield: Tyler O’Neill, Bakersfield
Outfield: Raimel Tapia, Modesto
Pitcher: Antonio Senzatela, Modesto
Pitcher: Anthony Banda, Visalia
Pitcher: Chase Johnson, San Jose
Pitcher: Dan Altavilla, Bakersfield

2016 California League schedule announced

The 2016 California League schedule was released on Wednesday. Here are some highlights:
The season begins on Thursday, April 7 with the Quakes hosting Lake Elsinore and the 66ers at High Desert. It ends on Labor Day, Sept. 5 with the Quakes hosting Modesto and the 66ers at Lancaster.
The Quakes host Stockton on July 3 and are at the 66ers on the 4th. The Sixers are at High Desert on July 3.
Cal League logo
The longest Sixer homestand is 8 games, July 4-July 11. The Quakes don’t have an 8-game homestand, but have 5 seven-game homestands.
It used to be that the league seemed to try and not have the Quakes and Sixers at home at the same time, because that big cut into each other’s attendance. But the trend is going the other way.
This year, the teams were home on the same day 22 times, so conversely they were on both on the road 22 times (All off-days are league-wide). Next year, however, that number grows to 32. They will both be home May 2-5, May 20-23, June 1-3, June 23-26, July 16-19, July 28-31, Aug. 9-Aug. 14, Aug. 23-25. They will both be on the road: May 17-19, May 27-30, June 16-19, June 27-29, July 21-24, Aug. 4-7, Aug. 15-21, Aug. 30-Sept. 1.

Click below to access the press release

Continue reading “2016 California League schedule announced” »

Quakes clinch first-half South Division title

Quakes logoEntering the day needing either to win or get a loss from Lancaster, the Quakes got both.
The Quakes (40-29) clinched the California League South Division first-half title with a 5-2 victory at Visalia on Saturday night.
It is the Quakes’ first playoff appearance since 2013 and also was the team’s first half-division title since winning both halves in 2011. Visalia (42-27) had already clinched the North Division first-half title.
On Saturday, Tyler Ogle had two hits, including his 13th home run and drove in three to lead the Quakes. It was Ogle’s two-run homer in the seventh that snapped a 2-2 tie. Brandon Dixon also homered for the Quakes.
Luis DePaula, A.J. Vanegas, Michael Johnson (4-1), Daniel Tillman, and Ramon Benjamin (fourth save) combined on a five-hitter for the Quakes.
Although Lake Elsinore’s game at Lancaster started about an hour before the Quakes’ game at Visalia, the Quakes’ game ended first, followed by Lancaster’s 12-8 loss to Lake Elsinore. The Quakes entered the game leading the first-half race by two games with two to play.

66ers close in on playoff spot

The second-worst team in the California League needs just 1 win in its final two games to make the playoffs.

That’s all the 66ers need Sunday or Monday at Lancaster to guarantee at least a tie for the South Division second half title. And a tie would not require a one-game playoff, but send the Sixers to the best-of-3 first round against Lake Elsinore.

The Quakes have a much longer road. Not only do they need the Sixers to lose their final two games, but they need to make up a one-game deficit to High Desert.

While the Sixers’ second half record is only 35-33, it would be remarkable to make the playoffs after going 25-45 in the first half, and losing their best position player, shortstop Jose Rondon, to Lake Elsinore in a trade.

Cal League South Division scenario update with 3 games left

After Friday’s games, the three-team race for the final South Division playoff spot has gotten tighter with 3 games left.

The 66ers beat Lancaster 12-8, the Quakes beat Lake Elsinore 9-0 and San Jose beat High Desert 12-3.

The 66ers and Lancaster are tied for 1st in the second half race. It’s as simple as this for the 66ers: If they win 2 of the final 3 games against Lancaster, they are in the playoffs. They could still tie for the second half title with LE, but as stated in a previous post, that would be enough to get the Sixers in. There would be no 1-game playoff.

Should the Sixers lose at least 2 of the next 3 games, the last spot would go to High Desert or the Quakes. After Friday’s games, those teams are tied for the last spot.

They COULD have a 1-game playoff. And it would be at High Desert on Tuesday, because HD won the season series, 13-11.

California League playoff scenarios with 4 games left

I just had an exchange of e-mails with Matt Blaney from the California League office to clear up the potentially confusing playoff scenario in the Cal League’s South Division w.

So far, Lancaster and Lake Elsinore are in the playoffs, but the 66ers, Quakes and High Desert are still in the running for the division’s last playoff spot, with 4 games remaining, including tonight.

Here’s how it breaks down.

  • The 66ers (tied for 2nd with LE, 1 game back of Lancaster), need to win the 2nd half to make the playoffs. BUT, they only need to tie for the 2nd half title. Matt said that if the 66ers tie with Lake Elsinore (they can’t tie with Lancaster, because they are playing Lancaster), for the 2nd half title, there would be NO 1-game playoff, because Lake Elsinore is already in the playoffs. The 66ers would get in and play Lake Elsinore in the first round.
  • The Quakes and High Desert can only get in if the 66ers are not involved in the 2nd half title. They WOULD have a 1-game playoff if the 66ers aren’t involved and if the Quakes and HD are tied. HD leads the Quakes by 1 game, with 4 left.
  • Here’s who plays who: 66ers at Lancaster, Quakes at Lake Elsinore, San Jose at High Desert.
  • In the North Division, it’s between Visalia and San Jose for the last playoff spot, with Visalia leading by 3 games. Bakersfield and Stockton are already in.

Quakes, 66ers lose a day after 14-inning marathon

On Wednesday, the Quakes and 66ers played an epic 14-inning game, finally won by the Sixers despite needing to pitch the final three innings with two different position players: infielder Brian Hernandez and outfielder Andrew Ray.

A day later, in the 66ers first home game of the season and the Quakes’ first road game, both teams lost.

The Sixers (2-6)  loss was 8-3 to High Desert (6-2) as the Mavericks pounded out 18 hits and the Sixers committed three errors and went 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Wade Hinkle was 2-for-2 with a home run, a double and two walks. Jordy Lara had four hits, finishing a double short of the cycle for the Mavericks.

The Quakes lost in more excruciating fashion. Playing at Modesto (1-7), they carried a 5-4 lead to the bottom of the ninth against Luis Meza (0-1).

With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the ninth, Wilson Soriano singled and stole second. After a walk, a fielding error by Quakes first baseman Chris Jacobs allowed the tying run to score and put runners on second and third. Sean Dwyer’s single to center scored the game-winning run.

For the Quakes (3-5) , Pratt Maynard hit two doubles and drove in two runs.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2014 roster

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 2014 Opening Day Roster. Team opens at home on Apr. 3 at 7:;05 p.m.
Manager: 7 P.J. Forbes
Hitting coach: 35 Mike Eylward
Pitching coach: 33 Matt Herges
Pitchers
35 Chris Anderson R/R (No. 5 prospect)
27 Geoff Brown L/L
45 Freddie Cabrera R/R
29 Lindsey Caughel R/R
16 Daniel Coulumbe L/L
31 Owen Jones R/R
40 Fabio Martinez R/R
34 Luis Meza R/R
18 Rob Rogers R/R
43 Matt Shelton R/R
21 Blake Smith L/R
17 Julio Urias L/L (No. 3)
38 Tom Windle L/L (No. 12)
Catchers
10 Jose Capellan R/R
23 Pratt Maynard L/R
Infielders
5 Brandon Dixon R/R (No. 30) 3B
44 Chris Jacobs R/R 1B
6 Adam Law R/R 3B
24 Tyler Ogle R/R 1B
19 Steven Proscia R/R 1B
12 Corey Seager L/R SS (No. 2)
3 Scott Wingo L/R 2B
Outfielders
14 James Baldwin L/R
11 Robbie Garvey L/L
13 Jeremy Rathjen R/R