Chase De Jong strikes out five in Quakes 6-3

RANCHO CUCAMONGA --- On a warm evening at LoanMart Field, Chase De Jong pitched five solid innings and the Quakes scored early and often to produce a 6-3 win over the Storm (Padres) on Friday evening.

The Quakes have not lost to the Storm at home this season, tonight's win made their record 13-0.

Chase De Jong allowed two runs, six hits and continued to build up his strikeout to walk ratio by striking out five with no walks.

De Jong showed a good mix of pitches, sitting around 91 with his fastball but able to get swings and misses on his fastball and breaking pitches.

Quakes pitching coach Bill Simas said the only thing they are working on is keeping De Jong on line, "he's a little bit cross-body so the longer we can keep on line, he came like that, ready."

"[De Jong] spins a top to bottom breaking ball, throws his fastball for strikes to both sides of the plate," Simas said, "[De Jong] has a pretty good change up and he's working on a slider."

The Quakes got in the scoreboard in the first inning, when Tim Locastro walked and Alex Verdugo, making his California League debut, pushed a single into left field with Locastro running.

With runners on first and third,  Cody Bellinger continued his hot hitting with a two-run triple.

In the second inning, Paul Hoenecke hit a solo shot, Hoenecke's eighth home run of the year.

Also making his California League debut, Kyle Garlick singled home a run in the fourth inning.

The Quakes scored two runs in the fifth inning on an error and hit batter.

Kyle Hooper followed De Jong with two scoreless innings. Rob Rogers allowed a run in the eighth. Karch Kowalczyk finished up to record his second save for the Quakes.