High Desert Mavericks: June 2011 Archives

When the High Desert Mavericks came to Rancho Cucamonga for a four-game series that began on Wednesday, the Quakes had a chance to put a stranglehold on the first half South Division race. The Quakes led by 5 games with 18 to play. Instead, thanks to the Mavericks winning 3 of 4 (including Saturday's 7-4 win), the Quakes' once formidable lead is down to 3 games with 14 remaining.

The teams are done playing each other for the first half, but the Mavericks hold all the momentum now.

The Quakes' remaining first half schedule beginning today: 3 at Bakersfield (29-27), day off, 4 vs. Visalia (25-30), 3 vs. 66ers (24-32), 4 at Stockton (29-27). The Mavericks' remaining schedule beginning today: 3 vs. 66ers (24-32), day off, 4 vs. Lake Elsinore (25-31),  3 at Stockton (29-27), 4 at Lake Elsinore (25-31).

Meanwhile, the Mavericks will have a deal with a big leaguer for at least one game beginning Sunday: Angels outfielder Vernon Wells, who will begin a rehab assignment with the 66ers as he recovers from a groin strain. Game time in Adelanto is 5:05 p.m. It seems Wells was originally supposed to rehab with Triple-A Salt Lake, but possible bad weather in Reno (where Salt Lake is supposed to play) had the Angels shift his rehab assignment to the Cal League. No word on how many games he's scheduled to play for the 66ers.

It wasn't the ideal pitching matchup for the Quakes on paper, but the games, they say, aren't played on paper.

The Quakes scored in four of the first five innings and routed the High Desert Mavericks 6-1 at the Epicenter on Thursday. The win gave the Quakes (31-23) a five-game lead over the Mavericks (26-28) in the South Division with 16 games to play.

All-star candidate Chris Sorce started for the Mavericks, sporting a 5-1 record and a sparkling 2.92 ERA. Arismendy Ozoria (0-2, 9.72 ERA) was slated to pitch for the Quakes after Dodgers reliever Blake Hawksworth pitched the first inning in a rehab assignment.

But the Quakes hit Sorce hard, as he allowed 10 hits and six runs (five earned) in 4 2/3 innings. Ozoria, meanwhile, allowed only three hits and one run in five innings. Greg Wilborn, just off the disabled list, pitched the final three shutout innings for the save.

Travis Denker (ninth) and Gorman Erickson (third) each homered for the Quakes.

What was a 7 game lead over the High Desert Mavericks is down to 4 with 17 games to play as the Quakes' comeback came up short on Wednesday, 7-6.

The Quakes really had no business to even be in the game.

They were out-hit 17-6 and High Desert scored in each of the first four innings. But the Mavericks didn't run away with it as they ran into four double plays and left 13 runners on base.

The Mavericks led 7-1 in the sixth before Angelo Songco hit his second home run of the game in the bottom of the sixth to make it 7-2. It was Songco's first two-homer game in his three-year pro career.

It was still 7-2 in the eighth, when a fielding error by Mavericks shortstop Nick Franklin opened the door for three unearned Quakes runs, capped by Blake Smith's two-run homer.

Trailing 7-5 in the ninth, the Quakes rallied again with help from the Mavericks defense as closer Daniel Cooper dropped a throw from first baseman Dennis Raben for an error on what would have been the second out. Then Franklin made another error on what would've been the third out. A fielder's choice and an RBI single by Rafael Ynoa made it 7-6 with two outs and Cooper struck out Songco to end the game.

The Quakes (30-23) are only seven games over .500 for the first time since May 11, when they were 20-13. The Mavericks have three more games in the current series to cut into the Quakes' lead.