April 2010 Archives

In recent years, 66er fans at Arrowhead Credit Union Park could listen to broadcaster Mike Saeger via an in-house FM feed that would give the fans the broadcast live, with no delay.

New broadcaster Sam Farber has set up the same thing, so fans at ACUP can listen to games they're attending on 91.3 FM, but that's only in-house. Away from ACUP, games can be heard on KCAA 1050-AM.

Not surprisingly with new ownership this year, the Quakes are doing some different promotions. One of them is "Lunch with a Quake," which will be held Thursday (tomorrow) at Buffalo Wild Wings in Rancho Cucamonga. Quakes Gabe Jacobo and Will Smith will be in attendance from noon to 1 p.m. to talk to fans, and sign autographs during lunch.

It's a nice promotion, both for the Quakes and Buffalo Wild Wings for fans to get to meet players outside of the ballpark. However, it might be even better to have it on a day when the Quakes are at home. That way, people who have their curiosity piqued after meeting the players can see them play that night. The Quakes begin a seven-game road trip on Thursday and won't be home again until May 7.

Anel De Los Santos, who was supposed to be the Quakes' starting catcher this season, hasn't yet played for the team and he won't be catching any time soon.

De Los Santos took a foul tip off his hand in the exhibition game against Azusa Pacific and wasn't initially placed on the disabled list. But after his progress "plateaued" according to manager Keith Johnson he was placed on the DL.

De Los Santos, considered to be better defensively than offensively is catching bullpens, but is still feeling pain in his throwing hand. He underwent an MRI on the hand, but everything checked out OK. But until the pain subsides, De Los Santos won't take the next step, which would be to take batting practice and throw for several days in a row without pain.

In the meantime, Beau Brooks has been the main starter. Brooks was batting just .139 (5 for 36) with no home runs and four RBIs entering Friday.

With the Quakes sharing a radio station with the Lakers' Inland Empire affiliate, KSPA/1510 AM, something had to give with the NBA playoffs starting this week.

And it's the Quakes are the ones who take the back seat.

As it was on Tuesday, Quakes games on Thursday and Saturday will be broadcast on 1510 AM following Laker games. Quakes games can still be heard live through the web, at www.rcquakes.com.

Angels closer Brian Fuentes (stiff back) is scheduled to throw 1 inning today (Monday) for the Quakes at Lake Elsinore as part of a rehab assignment. As of now, it's scheduled to be his only rehab appearance with the Quakes.

Fuentes will be the third Angel to rehab with the Quakes this season, joining outfielder Reggie Willits and starting pitcher Scott Kazmir.

Hong-Chi Kuo, the Dodgers left-hander who hadn't pitched for the big club yet this season (sore elbow), is expected to make his second rehab appearance for the Sixers for today's 1:05 p.m. game against Modesto at Arrowhead Credit Union Park.

Kuo pitched a perfect first inning in Thursday's victory over Modesto. Today, word is he'll enter in about the 6th inning. It will likely be his last rehab appearance with the Sixers, as the team begins a seven-game North Division trip on Monday.

The Quakes really needed a victory. Even one that took 13 innings and four hours and 23 minutes to finish.

Gabe Jacobo's bases-loaded single over a drawn-in outfield with one out in the 13th lifted the Quakes to a 4-3 victory over Modesto on Tuesday night at the Epicenter.

With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 13th, Ivan Contreras led off with a hard grounder to the right of Modesto first baseman James Cesario, who knocked it down, but could not make a play, resulting in an error.

Alexi Amarista followed with another grounder to Cesario, who fielded it cleanly, but his throw to second was high for shortstop Thomas Field, pulling him off the second base bag. They were the only two errors for either team in the game.

Tyson Auer successfully sacrificed the runners along and Beau Brooks was intentionally walked. That's when Jacobo lined an offering from Jonnathan Aristil (0-1) to left center that likely would've been a hit no matter where the outfielders were playing. His teammates had to chase him down to give him the helmet-pounding celebration. Jacobo drove in three of the Quakes' four runs, including a solo homer earlier in the game.

The win went to Jeremy Haynes (1-0),who pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and was the only one of seven Quakes pitchers who didn't walk a batter. Nuts batters walked 11 times; the Quakes drew only two walks. But Quakes relievers pitched out of trouble as Modesto went 2-for-20 with runners in scoring position, while the Quakes weren't much better at 1-for-8.

A couple of notes from the Quakes' rally over the Sixers Friday night.

The win went to Miller High School product left-hander Robert Fish, back with another go-around with the Quakes. Fish, in his 2010 debut, pitched two impressive perfect innings in relief, striking out two.

Prior to the game, Sixers slugger Kyle Russell said he had faced Angels rehabbing big-leaguer Scott Kazmir before, when both Russell and Kazmir were in high school in Texas. Russell was a freshman and Kazmir was a senior.

So, what happened in that matchup?

"I think he struck me out on two pitches," Russell joked.

Russell had a little bit better success Friday night against Kazmir, singling to center in the second before striking out in the fourth and flying out to deep right-center in the sixth.

After the Quakes led 3-0 after five innings, the 66ers rallied for the final six runs for a 6-3 victory in the Cal League opener at the Epicenter on Thursday.

After cutting 3-0 deficit to 3-2 with single runs in the sixth and seventh, the Sixers took the lead for good in the eighth.

With two outs and nobody on, a single, a hit batter and a wild pitch put runners at second and third. Then Austin Gallagher, who broke up the Quakes' no-hit bid in the fith with a single, delivered a two-run single to give the Sixers a 4-3 lead. It was the first run-scoring hit for either team in the game.

But the most impressive hit was reserved for Kyle Russell, who has the biggest power resume on the new Sixers. Russell hit 28 homers and 102 RBI last year and crushed a 1-0 pitch halfway up the scoreboard in right field for a two-run shot that gave the Sixers a 6-3 lead. They got standout relief performances from Brandon Mann (1-0) and Cole St. Clair (save), who pitched the final three shutout innings.

Good crowd tonight for the new owners and new staff at the Cal League season opener for the Quakes, who lead the 66ers 2-0 after four innings.

A couple of minor glitches: PA music still playing during the first 2 pitches, no Quakes player ready to catch first pitches from Rancho Cucamonga City Council and scoreboard clock wasn't working.

But a good night so far. Most of the regular bowl is full except upper box behind first base and the cafe areas no word on attendance.

The Quakes announced their opening day roster. But the season doesn't start until Thursday and changes could be made before then.

The Quakes haven't gotten official word, but it's being reported several places that Angels starting pitcher Scott Kazmir will make a rehab start with the Quakes on Friday.

As for the roster there are a couple of locals: Redlands East Valley HS product RHP Tyler Chatwood (Angels No. 14 prospect, highest Angels prospect on the roster) and Miller HS product LHP Robert Fish (who previously pitched for the Quakes).

Other Angels prospects: No. 15 LHP Will Smith, No. 17 2B Alexi Amarista.

Other 2009 Quakes returning: RHP Jeremy Haynes, RHP Mike Kenney, RHP Eddie McKiernan, RHP Nick Pugliese, RHP Matt Shoemaker, LHP Andrew Taylor, OF Rian Kiniry.

Kiniry is the only position player returning to the Quakes.

No one thought much when the defending NL champion Philadelphia Phillies drafted ex-Quake reliever David Herndon in the Rule 5 draft in December. After all, he would need to make the 25-man Major League roster or would have to be offered back to the Angels.

Herndon was only two years removed from a 3-7, 5.01 ERA season with the Quakes. But he improved significantly in the second half when they moved him to the bullpen and he saved 17 games in the second half of the 2008 season. Last year he was 5-6 with 3.03 ERA and 11 saves for Double-A Arkansas.

Well, Herndon pitched well in spring training, compiling a 1.42 ERA for the Phils and he got some luck go his way. Three veteran Phillies pitchers: starter Joe Blanton and relievers Brad Lidge and J.C. Romero started the season on the disabled list opening the door for Herndon.

So Herndon got his chance, making the opening day roster and the Phillies got him into Monday's season opener. With the Phillies leading Washington 11-1, Herndon pitched the bottom of the ninth and here's how it went. Adam Kennedy ground out to first. Ivan Rodriguez double to right. Mike Morse single to left, Rodriguez to third, Morse to second on throwing error by LF Raul Ibanez. Cristian Guzman strikeout looking. Willy Tavares groundout to short.

Herndon pitches out of a jam and doesn't allow a run in his big-league debut.