Dodgers minor league news

Quakes clinch first half title, Kendall has three hits, including 6th home run

Quakes last won first half title in 2015

By Craig Minami Jun 17, 2018, 6:00am PDT

The Quakes started their current road trip knowing they had control of their destiny as long as they kept winning. So after taking three of four against the Storm, the Quakes won their first two games in their weekend series against the 66ers.

Combining that with two straight Storm losses gave the Quakes the first half division title. The last time the Quakes won the first half time was in 2015. The Quakes would go on to win the California League in 2015, what they do this season remains to be seen.

Player of the day

Jeren Kendall went 3-for-5 with a double, home run and three runs scored in the title-clinching game. Kendall also stole his 21st base out of 28 tries this season.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Dodgers won 8-1 over the Las Vegas 51s (Mets) to take the first game of their series. Guillermo Moscoso pitched five scoreless innings to get the win. Four other pitchers were able to handle the 51s but it was the offense that starred in this game.

The Dodgers had 16 hits which included eight doubles. Matt Beaty went 4-for-4 with two doubles and three runs scored. Alex Verdugo and Rocky Gale also had two doubles in this game. Guillermo Moscoso also used his bat well in this game as he doubled in two runs and also drove in a run with a ground out.

Double-A Tulsa

The Drillers trailed by two runs going to sixth inning but then they scored four times and they held on to win 4-3 over the NW Arkansas Naturals (Royals). All of the Drillers runs cam via the home run, Jacob Scavuzzo hit a three-run homer and DJ Peters followed that with a solo home run.

Logan Bawcom pitched six innings and gave up two runs (one earned) and five hits. Michael Johnson and Dylan Baker each pitched 1⅓ innings and Brian Moran got the last out to get his third save.

The Drillers will need help to win the first half as they trail by two games with two games to go. A Driller loss or Arkansas Traveler win will end their first half hopes.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

The Quakes scored five runs in the sixth to push their lead to six runs and they went on the beat the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels) 10-4 and as noted above combined with Lake Elsinore’s loss, the Quakes clinched their first half division title.

Last night’s win capped a week where the Quakes won six of seven games to win the division.

Jeren Kendall led off the game with his sixth home run of the season. The 66ers would match that run with one of their own in the first. After the Quakes scored two runs in the top of the third inning, the 66ers did one better to take a 4-3 lead after three innings.

But that would be the last runs the 66ers would score on Saturday, the Quakes retook the lead with two runs in the fourth and then the Quakes put the game away with five runs in the sixth.

Cristian Santana and Steve Berman each homered in the sixth, Berman hit a three-run homer. Kendall would end up with three hits, Santana, Berman and Omar Estevez each had two hits.

The bullpen came through for the Quakes as they pitched 6⅓ scoreless innings and Jason Richman got the win and Nolan Long picked up the save.

Class-A Great Lakes

The Loons lost 2-1 to the Fort Wayne TinCaps (Padres) in the most agonizing way. In the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and one out, Loon pitcher Aneurys Zabala struck out Gabriel Arias. But wait, it was a wild pitch and the winning run scored.

Victor Gonzalez started for the Loons and he pitched five innings and he gave up one run and three hits. James Carter followed with three scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

Jared Walker had two hits and one run scored. Erik Peterson had one hit and one run driven in.

Rookie - Pioneer

The Raptors are now 0-for-2 as they lost 12-4 to the Idaho Falls Chukars (Royals). All five Raptor pitchers gave up at least one run in their outings. Kevin Malisheski started for the Raptors and he pitched two innings and gave up four runs and three hits. Malisheski also walked three and struck out two.

Jair Camargo, Jefrey Souffront, Preston Grand Pre and Jeremy Arocho each had two hits, Grand Pre had two doubles and Camargo hit his first triple.

Transactions

Triple-A: Right-handed pitchers Ariel Hernandez and Drew Hutchison were assigned to Oklahoma City; also Oklahoma City released left-handed pitcher Chad Girodo.

Double-A: Left-handed pitcher Michael Johnson assigned to Tulsa from Oklahoma City.