Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League affiliates High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa claimed championships on the same night, with the Quakes winning the California League title and Drillers clinching the Texas League championship.
Dodgers relief pitchers Tony Cingrani, John Axford and Yimi Garcia contributed to the Quakes completing a three-game sweep of the Visalia Rawhide (Arizona Diamondbacks). Axford retired two of four batters faced and allowed one run.
He’s been sidelined since Aug. 13 due to a fractured fibula sustained in just his third relief appearance since being traded to the Dodgers.
Cingrani, out since June 7 because of a rotator cuff strain threw a scoreless inning in his rehab assignment. Meanwhile, Garcia recorded two of the three outs in the ninth inning.
The Cal League title is the third in Quakes franchise history (1994, 2015). Third baseman Cristian Santana was named MVP of the series as he hit a home run in the 9-1 clinching victory.
For the third time in franchise history, YOUR RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES ARE CALIFORNIA LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!! pic.twitter.com/yfAqzZduNU
— Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (@RCQuakes) September 15, 2018
🍾🎉🍾🎉🍾🎉 pic.twitter.com/0eauD7Oj3T
— Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (@RCQuakes) September 15, 2018
As for the Drillers, the championship is their first since becoming a Dodgers affiliate. It also ended a 20-year drought for the franchise as they were last kings of the Texas League in 1998.
Shortstop prospect Gavin Lux lit the spark early by clubbing a home run on the first pitch of the game. Top Dodgers pitching prospect Dustin May limited the San Antonio Missions (San Diego Padres affiliate) to two runs on seven hits over five innings.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1998, THE TULSA DRILLERS ARE TEXAS LEAGUE CHAMPS! pic.twitter.com/LJsO8ZsXqN
— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) September 15, 2018
Everybody chug! pic.twitter.com/mEQcx8pHGp
— Tulsa Drillers (@TulsaDrillers) September 15, 2018
In addition to the Quakes and Drillers, it’s been a successful year for the Dodgers’ Minor League affiliates. The Arizona League team won the championship, Rookie-level Ogden reached the playoffs and so too did Low-A Great Lakes and Triple-A Oklahoma City.
