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07/16/2008 8:29 PM ET
Conger king for day at plate with three homers
Quakes DH goes yard twice on the left side, once on the right against Mavs
By Alan Friedman / Special to MLB.com
Hank Conger matched his career high by collecting five RBIs on the day. (Rancho Cucamonga Quakes)

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Rancho Cucamonga's Hank Conger might have picked up a tip or two while watching Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby on Monday night.

Whatever the reason, the switch-hitting designated hitter staged his own version Wednesday afternoon, belting three roundtrippers and tying a career high with five RBIs to lead the host Quakes past the High Desert Mavericks, 6-1.

The 20-year-old Conger, who came into the game with just two homers in 27 games this season, belted a two-run shot to right field in the fourth inning, drilled a solo blast to center in the sixth and slugged another two-run homer to center in the eighth.

"I was watching (the Home Run Derby) before we had to go out on the field for a game," Conger said. "You watch the way these guys hit and you really appreciate the way they swing."

It marked the first professional multi-homer game for Conger, as well as the first time he homered from both sides of the plate in one game since his Little League days.

Conger's first two homers were as a left-handed hitter off High Desert righty Ricky Orta (3-4). The third longball came from the other side of the plate off of Mavericks lefty Michael Wagner.

"I was 12 years old playing in a tournament in Cooperstown representing a team from Orange County (California), and I homered from both sides of the plate in one inning," he recalled.

It was also the second time as a pro he drove in five runs in a game. He matched his production on May 30, 2007, while playing for Class A Cedar Rapids of the Midwest League in a 12-7 win over the Peoria Chiefs.

Conger attributed much of Wednesday's success to the hard work he's been doing on his swing since returning from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for most of Spring Training and the first month of the season.

"My main focus has been to get back on track and get my timing down," he said. "The timing hadn't been there. But today, the homers just kind of happened."

Despite his newfound success, the Angels' first-round pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft -- the 25th selection overall -- said he doesn't intend to alter his game at the plate.

"This is a great boost of confidence," Conger said. "I'm feeling good at the plate, but I can't get carried away. I'm going to continue on my same approach, just trying to find my swing."

Michael Anton (1-3) allowed a run on six hits, fanning four without issuing a walk over seven frames to pick up the win for the Quakes (14-12).

Orta surrendered four runs on six hits, striking out eight without a walk over 5 1/3 innings to take the loss for the Mavericks (11-14).

Alan Friedman is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.