The Central Valley Sir Loins defeated the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 6-2 on August 23, 2026, at Valley Strong Ballpark in Visalia, California, clinching the series with their fourth win of the week and one game remaining to play.
Pitcher Mervin Fell delivered a strong start, pitching five innings while allowing two runs on five hits and one walk, striking out seven. Fell earned his second win of the season and boasts a 3.13 ERA over five starts since the All-Star Break.
Rancho Cucamonga took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with back-to-back doubles, but the Sir Loins responded immediately. Carson Kerce walked, Brayden Dowd singled, and Nathan Hall followed with an RBI single to tie the game.
Central Valley took control of the game in the fifth inning. Ryder Helfrick led off with a single and Pedro Blanco drew a walk. After a catcher’s interference error and fielder’s choice, Jack Spanier lined a two-RBI double down the right-field line, giving the Sir Loins a 3-1 lead.
Though the Quakes narrowed the lead in the sixth, the Sir Loins added an insurance run later that inning. Kerce reached on a walk and scored following a wild pitch, a Dowd single, and a sacrifice fly by Helfrick.
Helfrick, the 15th overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, capped the scoring in the eighth inning with a towering 437-foot two-run home run, his fourth in just 13 professional games. Dowd recorded his first professional three-hit game, while Kerce drew three walks and scored three runs. Tytus Cissell extended his on-base streak to 10 games with a single during the contest.
Relievers Samuel Gonzalez and Erick Reynoso combined to pitch four scoreless innings, with Gonzalez throwing three shutout innings with two strikeouts and Reynoso closing out the game.
The Sir Loins are now seven games out of a playoff spot with just 13 games remaining in the season.
The final game of the series will be played Sunday at Valley Strong Ballpark and will feature Family Fun Sunday events for fans and families.
CSB Take
Mervin Fell’s impressive pitching performance was critical in securing the series-clinching win for the Central Valley Sir Loins, highlighting his consistency since the All-Star Break. Ryder Helfrick continues to make an immediate impact with his powerful hitting early in his professional career. With key contributions across the lineup and mound, the Sir Loins stay in playoff contention as the season winds down, setting up an important final game in the series.
Source: Original report
