Ryan Falla
No one puts on a show like the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. After losing Game 1 of the Division Series the Quakes picked up an ultra-gritty win over the 66ers in Game 2. Rancho Cucamonga would close out the series with an uber-electric, high-energy 11-6 victory over the 66ers. This game saw the Quakes fall to an early 4-0 deficit. before 1B Joe Vetrano picked the team up with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the 2nd in an inning which saw the Quakes homer four times in the inning; the first followed by a rocket two-run shot off the bat of Jordan Thompson followed by another two-run blast, this time by outfielder Josue De Paula, leading into a vicious three-run bomb by fire starter Joe Vetrano. To call the moment electric would be an understatement.
Joe Vetrano on his 2 HR performance: “You know, we were competing in there and we were just trying to pass the bat. Luckily, I saw some good pitches and put (in) some good swings to help us win the game. Everyone battled, they [66ers] battled back and forth and luckily we came out on top”
What a way to pass the bat. This eight-run inning would be enough to seal the victory on its own, though the Quakes would follow with a few more insurance runs with the tally ending at eleven total over nine innings. Pitchers Roque Gutierrez, Liam Doolan, Noah Ruen, and Garrett McDaniels all contributed to the victory with McDaniels coming away with the win. The winning pitcher finished the final three innings of the game after being called into a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the 7th and immediately pulled the team out with a quick double play followed by a key strikeout to Denzer Guzman.
Jordan Thompson on the home run rally: “It was awesome to be a part of that. I mean, just to get the guys going, continue to take good at-bats in a row and good things happen. Really proud of the guys and the way that we were able to stay focused the whole game, continue to play our brand of baseball, and work hard to get on base and make plays.”
Josue De Paula on his HR in the 5th: “Only a few feelings in the world that could make you feel the same. Especially in this game. So amazing. Amazing. At first, it felt unreal, had to take a few to like really process what was going on, but I’m happy that it went through like that.”
The championship series will see Rancho head to Modesto for Sunday’s Game 1 before coming home for Game 2 on Tuesday, September 19th.
