2021 game notes Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 at 7:05 PM Contact: Mike Lindskog San Manuel Stadium Game #1, Road Game #1 [email protected] San Bernardino, CA Rancho Cucamonga QuakeS (0-0) AT 66ers (0-0) RHP Gavin Stone (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Andrew Blake (0-0, 0.00 ERA) TODAY’S GAME: At long last, the 2021 season is finally underway as the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes will open things up with a STANDINGS six-game set on the road against the Inland Empire at San Manuel Stadium. Both teams will be looking to start this long-awaited sea- son with a win on Opening Day. The Quakes will look to get back to their winning ways after finishing 81-56 in their 2019 campaign, NORTH W L PCT GB which was good enough to claim the league’s first half and second half South Division Title. While Inland Empire will look to start a Modesto 0 0 .000 - new trend after a tough 2019 season left them with a 57-82 record. San Jose 0 0 .000 - VS INLAND EMPIRE: This is the first of 30 total meetings between the Quakes and the Inland Empire, and the first of 18 games to Stockton 0 0 .000 - Fresno 0 0 .000 - be played at San Manuel Stadium. In the 2019 season, the Quakes had success against the Inland Empire taking 20 of the 30 games played between these clubs in 2019. The Quakes were comfortable at San Miguel Stadium going 13-3 on the road in 2019, however home field advantage eluded the Quakes as well in the season series as they split with the Inland Empire 7-7 at LoanMart Field. The SOUTH W L PCT GB Rancho Cucamonga 0 0 .000 - Inland Empire will be led offensively by secondbaseman Kyran Paris and shortstop Jeremiah Jackson. Both former second round picks Lake Elsinore 0 0 .000 - from ‘18 and ‘19 will be right at the top of the order for manager Jack Howell. Inland Empire 0 0 .000 - BREAKING THE STREAK: MiLB Opening Night has not been kind to the Quakes the last five seasons. Despite their overall Visalia 0 0 .000 - success during these last five seasons, claiming league titles in 2015 and 2018, the Quakes have struggled to start the season off with a win. The last time the ballclub won on Opening Night came in the 2015 season. The Quakes will look to right the ship and get the first win out of the gate here in 2021. TODAY NEW LOOK LEAGUE: The Quakes will look to adapt to the new format of their league this season, playing each team in multiple Lake Elsinore at Visalia, 6:00 PM six-game sets throughout the year, as opposed to the traditional three or four-game series. It will bring with it a different type of game Fresno at San Jose, 6:30 PM management that new manager John Shoemaker and company will have to get used to. In a six-game series, there may be no secrets Stockton at Modesto, 7:05 PM between teams after their first series, as almost the entire pithing staff will be needed each week, thus allowing both teams to see the Rancho Cucamonga at Inland Empire, 7:05 PM full arsenal of pitchers the other team has. The introduction of two new rules for the Low-A West season will also directly impact the game for the man on the mound. A shorter pitch clock will be introduced this season, giving pitchers only 15 seconds between offer- ings. The second rule change is the advent of a pick-off limit. Pitchers this season will only be allowed to pick over to a base two times TOMORROW per runner. If they attempt a third and are unsuccessful in getting the runner, it will be ruled a balk and the runner will be allowed Lake Elsinore at Visalia, 6:00 PM to advance one base. We’ll see if the speed-demon Jake Vogel, the Dodgers 2020 3rd round selection, may be able to use this to his Fresno at San Jose, 6:30 PM advantage and swipe some bags to electrify the Quakes offense. Stockton at Modesto, 7:05 PM NEW TEAM: With the loss of the Lancaster JetHawks (Colorado Rockies affiliate) a new team has been introduced into the Low-A Rancho Cucamonga at Inland Empire, 7:05PM West League. The Rockies are now sporting the as their newest Low-A affiliate team in the North Division. Visalia is now a member of the South, replacing the now-defunct Lancaster JetHawks. GAVIN STONE: The 5th round selection by the Dodgers will look to get the Quakes off to a hot start on the mound as he gets the CAL LEAGUE SCOREBOARD Opening Day nod. Stone was drafted out of Central Arkansas in 2020 where he amassed 100.1 innings pitched over three seasons to Yesterday the tune of a 2.42 ERA. Now the Lake City, Arkansas native finds himself on the mound for the Quakes and looking to get the Quakes 2021 season started off on the right track. ANDREW BLAKE: The tall right-hander out of North Carolina State will be getting the ball for the Inland Empire to start as RHP Andrew Blake toes the rubber tonight for the Inland Empire. The former Wolfpack member commences his second season of professional baseball, hoping to build on a strong 2019 campaign after the year off from competition. The Lewisville, NC native pitched 21.2 innings over 17 appear- ances going 1-0 with a 8.72 ERA with the Rookie Ball Orem Owls. Blake was drafted in the 21st round of the 2019 MLB Draft. AROUND THE FARM: The MiLB season is upon us as most of the Dodgers minor league affiliates kick off their seasons tonight. Starting from the top, the Oklahoma City Dodgers will begin their season this Thursday on the road against the Express (D-Backs 2021 QUAKES AT A GLANCE affiliate). Oklahoma’s Opening Day roster will be headlined by RHP Josiah Gray, who is a former Quake and a top prospect in the 1st Half Record: Dodgers farm system, ranked 49 in the MLB top 100. The Tulsa Drillers will take the field tonight for the first time in 2021 as they 0-0 play host to another D-Backs affiliate in the Amarillo Sod Poodles. The Drillers begin the year with plenty of offensive potential, vs Inland Empire: 0-0 fielding a lineup featuring Michael Busch (MLB No. 92) and Kody Hoese, as well as two other of the Dodgers top ten prospects. Lastly, vs IE Home 0-0 the Great Lakes Loons who are beginning their first season of High-A competition will play host to the Dayton Dragons. RHP Bobby vs IE Road 0-0 Miller, the Dodgers 2020 first round draft pick will headline the Loons roster, and on the offensive side of the ball, Miguel Vargas will Home Record: 0-0 be the man to highlight in the Loons lineup. The third baseman was ranked by The Athletic as the No. 75 prospect in all of baseball. Road Record: 0-0 NEW RADIO HOME: Throughout the 2021 season, you can catch all the action from the ease of your phone or computer. Listen on- Current Streak: - line at rcquakes.com and the iHeartRadio and TuneIn Radio apps with the “Voice of the Quakes” Mike Lindskog and Davis Ellington. HOME OPENER: Starting the season on the road means that the Quakes will be hosting the for their home opener next Tuesday May 11th at LoanMart Field. Limited tickets are available online at rcquakes.com. Probable Quakes Lineup UPCOMING GAMES AND PROBABLES 1. #11 J. Vogel CF Date Opp Pitching Probables Time Radio 2. #3 S. McWilliams 2B 3. #23 B. Lewis 3B 5/5 at Inland Empire RHP Robbie Peto vs. RHP John Swanda 7:05 PM RCQuakes.com 4. #15 J. Deluca RF 5. #14 J. Vivas DH 5/6 at Inland Empire Jimmy Lewis vs. LHP Breny Killam 7:05 PM RCQuakes.com 6. #6 A. Dejesus SS 7. #5 S. Lao 1B 5/7 at Inland Empire Kendall Williams vs. RHP Jack Kochanowicz 7:05 PM RCQuakes.com 8. #33 W. Chalo C 9. #7 E. Mateo LF 5/8 at Inland Empire Carlos Duran vs. LHP Adam Seminaris 7:05 PM RCQuakes.com P. #44 G. Stone RHP