The Los Angeles Dodgers’ High-A Minor League affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes finished the first half of their season with a 42-28 record, good for second place behind the High Desert Mavericks (Texas Rangers affiliate) in the California League South standings.
The Quakes and Mavericks resumed the second half of the 2016 season on Thursday with the opener of a four-game set at LoanMart Field. Rancho came away with a one-run victory, but were soundly defeated Friday night.
While the Mavericks scored 10 runs on 18 hits, the game was marred by a benches-clearing brawl that broke out in the sixth inning. A Quakes batter was hit in the bottom of the fifth, seemingly without issue, though reliever Luis De Paula plunked Travis Demeritte with the first pitch of the inning.
Demeritte leads the Cal League with 19 home runs, including one hit in the fifth. He began to slowly walk to the mound but was beat to the punch his teammates who came rushing out of the dugout. Shoving led between the two teams led to punches being thrown:
Somewhat amazingly, umpires only ejected De Paula and Mavericks third baseman Juremi Profar. The Quakes and Mavericks continue their series through Sunday afternoon.
