September 2010 Archives

Thursday's announcement made it official: for the next 2 years, the Quakes will be affiliated with the Dodgers and the 66ers will be affiliated with the Angels.

Since they've been an affiliate for longer, my belief is the Quakes-Angels breakup after 10 years will be tougher on fans than the Sixers-Dodgers breakup after 4. I think there are quite a few Quakes fans who are also Angels fans, although I'm not sure if they were Quakes or Angels fans first.

Although there are plenty of Dodger fans in San Bernardino, there are also plenty of Sixer fans who remember fondly the teams of the past. From 1995-2000, they were with the Dodgers and won 3 Cal League titles, then from 2001-06 were with the Seattle Mariners and won 2 titles. When the Dodgers returned for 2007-10, it wasn't the same success, although there were frequent appearances by Manny Ramirez the last couple of years.

I think both teams will lose some fans, others won't care about the affiliation. Yet while the players change, many of the giveaways and promotions will stay the same. Perhaps the Quakes will gain some Dodger fans from the Fontana-Rialto area, who previously went to San Bernardino. Perhaps the 66ers will gain some Angel fans from the Riverside area, who felt they were too far from Rancho Cucamonga.

Eventually, fans will get used to it. Slowly, but surely.
What do you think? Post a message here or e-mail me at pete.marshall@inlandnewspapers.com

The long-rumored Dodgers-Quakes affiliation becomes official today, as both sides announced a two-year player development contract for the 2011-12 seasons. The Quakes had been affiliated with the Angels for the previous 10 seasons. The Dodgers had been with the 66ers for the previous four seasons and also from 1995-2000.

No word yet if the Sixers and Angels are announcing a deal yet.

In the end, the San Jose Giants didn't necessarily have more late-inning magic, they just had the last late-inning magic.

Two days after the Quakes rallied from a 7-4 deficit in the ninth, but San Jose won a thrilling game 3 12-7 in 11 innings, something similar happened.

This time, the Quakes rallied from down 6-4 in the eighth, but squandered a bases-loaded, one-out situation in that inning. They also left a runner in scoring position in both the 9th and 10th innings.

The Quakes seemed like a team of destiny in 2010. All the way up until the time Darwin Perez struck out to end the game, they seemed like it. Give a lot of credit to the coaching staff of Keith Johnson, Damon Mashore and Dan Ricabal that kept the team on track and focused on winning a title.

They were balanced, with speed, defense and pitching. They just didn't have one more run.

Is the focus for organizations to win league titles? No, developing players is more important. But they'd like to develop players in a winning environment. Win or lose, the Angels got that with the Quakes players, who had a winning, team-first attitude.

Manny Flores pitched eight shutout innings and he combined with Nick Pugliese on a six-hitter as the Quakes blanked San Jose 4-0 in Game 4 on Sunday night at the Epicenter, evening the best-of-five Championship Series at two games apiece.

The pitching matchup for Game 5 will decide whether the Quakes win their first league title since 1994 or San Jose repeats as league champions.

On one hand, is Quakes right-hander Kyle Hurst, who hasn't pitched since Sept. 3. The Quakes haven't needed him to pitch since they swept High Desert in 2 games and ousted Lake Elsinore in Game 4 of the best-of-five South Finals.

Hurst's overall numbers aren't impressive. He had a 5-3 record and a 5.31 ERA in the regular season. But, he was 4-0 with a 2.73 ERA in his final four starts in the regular season. His one appearance against San Jose? Don't ask. It was June 1 at San Jose and he allowed eight earned runs in 1 1/3 innings in a spot-start. But that was long before he started to figure things out.

San Jose right-hander Justin Fitzgerald, who pitched seven shutout innings in Game 1, will pitch on three days rest in Game 5. That's almost unheard of in the minor leagues, even in the playoffs.

Fitzgerald was 10-6 with a 3.45 ERA in the regular season, but never even pitched with as few as four days off between starts in the first half. In the first half  he had at least five or six days off between each of his starts. In the second half, it was four or five. Between his first two playoff starts, he had four days off.

This is the 24-year-old Fitzgerald's third pro season and the first pro season in which he started. So he has never started on three days rest as a pro.

After a stirring rally from 3 runs down in the ninth to send the game into extra innings the Quakes couldn't rally from a five-run deficit in the 11th and lost 12-7 in Game 3 on Saturday night at the Epicenter. San Jose's win puts the Giants one win away from back-to-back titles. Game 4 is Sunday at the Epicenter at 5:05 p.m.

With the score tied 7-7 in the top of the 11th, Jose Perez (0-1) came in to pitch for the Quakes. Perez had retired San Jose in order in his only inning in Game 2 and he struck out Francisco Peguero to begin the inning. But catcher Alberto Rosario couldn't handle the pitch and Peguero reached on the passed ball. Juan Perez sacrificed Peguero to second and Jose Flores tripled to right center, giving San Jose the tie-breaking run. Johnny Monell, already with three home runs in the series, was intentionally walked and then Charlie Culberson was un-intentionally walked to load the bases. Brandon Crawford then unloaded a grand slam to center field and suddenly it was 12-7. Perez retired the next two batters but the damage was done. The Quakes only got one runner on in the bottom half of the inning.

The Quakes rallied in the ninth in improbable fashion. Jon Townsend led off the inning by striking out, but reached first on a wild pitch. With one out, Darwin Perez walked and Mike Trout singled to right-center to score Townsend. It was the Quakes' only hit in 12 at-bats with runners in scoring position. Right fielder Peguero bobbled the ball to send Perez to third and Trout to second and when center fielder Juan Perez's throw to the infield skipped all the way through, Perez scored and Trout took third. Alberto Rosario's suicide squeeze bunt scored Trout barely under the throw, tying the score 7-7.

In the 10th, the Quakes had a golden opportunity to win the game. Gabe Jacobo led off with a single and with one out, Angel Castillo got his first hit in 12 at-bats in the series to send Jacobo to second. But Townsend grounded into an inning-ending double play, sending the game to the 11th.

The Quakes returned home for Game 3 tonight with a few lineup changes.

For Game 2, manager Keith Johnson swapped the No. 2 and No. 9 spots in the order putting Alberto Rosario at No. 9 and Darwin Perez at No. 2. For Game 3, he switched them back with Rosario batting in the second spot and Perez at No. 9. Like they were in Game 2, Jon Townsend played second base and batted seventh and Matt Long played left field and batted eighth.

For San Jose, there were a few changes. The top six in the order are essentially the same, but No. 6 hitter Brandon Crawford is playing shortstop, not third base like he did in the first two games. Joel Weeks, who also serves as the backup catcher, was a hot hitter down the stretch for the Giants and got his first start of the series for Game 3. Batting seventh and playing third base. Drew Biery, who played in Game 1 at first base and batted eighth, returned to the lineup for Game 3.

The Quakes are already off to a hot start. Mike Trout hit the second pitch of the bottom of the first for a home run and the Quakes added another run in the inning for a 2-0 lead.

The Quakes got what they wanted: a split in San Jose before returning home for the final three.

Following Game 1's forgettable 10-0 loss, they got solid pitching, enough hitting and defense for a 4-2 victory in Game 2. Garrett RIchards (1-1) allowed two hits and one run in seven innings and Jon Townsend was 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two RBIs.

Game 3 Saturday at the Epicenter looks like a dandy of a pitching matchup: Quakes right-hander Ryan Chaffee (1-0, 1.29 ERA in the playoffs) vs. San Jose right-hander Kyle Woodruff (1-0, 0.00 in the playoffs).

It's the first time since 2006 the first two games of the championship series were split. That year, the 66ers returned home with the series 1-1 and won the title in 5 games over Visalia. In 2004, the last time before 2006 it was 1-1 after two games, Lancaster returned home but it was Modesto which won the series in 5 games.

Manager Keith Johnson decided to go with newcomer Matt Long (an injury replacement on the roster for Richard Cates) in left over Eric Oliver after Oliver's missed fly ball in Game 1 led to 5 unearned runs. Johnson knew he was giving up offense for defense. Long wasn't a factor. he didn't have tough plays to make in left and went 0-for-4 at the plate.

Other than putting in Townsend in at second (he and Kevin Ramos have shared the second base job), the one other change to the lineup is swapping Darwin Perez to No. 2 and Alberto Rosario to the No. 9 spot in the lineup. Perez was 0-for-4 with a sacrifice bunt and Rosario went 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Quakes fans, want good news?

The Quakes have responded to poor performances very well this year, which is good news in the wake of Thursday's 10-0 disappointing loss at the hands of San Jose in Game 1 of the Cal League Championship Series.

Consider: including the playoffs, Thursday's loss was just the fifth time this season the Quakes have been shut out. In the following game, they responded with wins three times in four chances.

In the regular season, the Quakes allowed 10 runs in a game and lost nine times. They were 8-1 in the game following allowing 10 runs in a loss.

Thursday's loss was the biggest shutout loss of the season, but not the largest margin in a loss. That honor goes to a game May 22 against the 66ers, when the Quakes lost 16-5. What did they do the next day? They beat the Sixers, 9-8.

After Game 1 of the South Finals when the Quakes lost 5-0 to Lake Elsinore and made seven errors in the process, Quakes fans were concerned. But the Quakes came back to win the next 3 games.

In Game 1 of the Cal League Championship Series on Thursday, the Quakes fell 10-0 at San Jose.

There were some similarities.

Both games the Quakes had defensive issues. They didn't have 7 errors on Thursday, but the 2 errors they did have led to six unearned runs. Both starters (Garrett Richards against Lake Elsinore and Orangel Arenas on Thursday) pitched well enough to win.

The defense and hitting were worse against Lake Elsinore (they showed little life on offense), but the pitching was worse on Thursday. Although an error by left fielder Eric Oliver opened the door to five unearned runs in the seventh, Arenas (and then reliever Christian Scholl) were unable to make the big pitches to mimize damage. Scholl then gave up three more runs (one unearned) in the eighth.

The bottom line is, the Quakes showed the ability to overcome 1 bad game. That Lake Elsinore game was more than double the previous most errors they had in any game this season (three), but they recovered. Game 2 Friday will be a good indication of whether they're able to repeat the magic of the Lake Elsinore series.

I made it up to San Jose along with our photographer extraordinaire Will Lester. It's a beautiful day in the South Bay: warm, clear skies a bit of a breeze from right to left at San Jose Municipal Stadium.

Here's a tale of the tape between the Quakes and San Jose Giants, as they prepare for Game 1 of the Cal League Championship Series tonight.

Regular season record: Quakes 78-62; San Jose 76-64

Head-to-head record: Quakes 4 wins, San Jose 2 wins.

How they got here: Quakes won 2nd half South title, beat the Mavericks (2-0) and Lake Elsinore (3-1); San Jose won 1st half North title, had first-round bye, then beat Modesto (3-0).

Franchise trips to the Finals since the Quakes moved to Rancho Cucamonga in 1993: Quakes 3rd; San Jose 9th.

Championships since 1993: Quakes 1; San Jose 5

Last Championship: Quakes 1994, San Jose 2009

Head-to-head in the playoffs: San Jose won the only other head-to-head matchup beating the Quakes in the 1998 finals, 3-1

Parent club all-time matchups: Angels (Quakes parent club) defeated the San Francisco Giants (San Jose's parent club) in the 2002 World Series.

2010 Team batting average: Quakes .278 batting average (tied 3rd in league); San Jose .289 (2nd)

Runs scored: Quakes 738 (5th); San Jose 739 (4th)

Home runs: Quakes 117 (tied 6th); San Jose 117 (tied 6th)

Stolen bases: Quakes 197 (2nd); San Jose 208 (1st)

ERA: Quakes 4.26 (2nd); San Jose 4.27 (3rd)

Strikeouts: Quakes 1116 (4th); San Jose 1025 (8th).

Walks: Quakes 426 (3rd); San Jose 437 (4th).

Team defense: Quakes .980 fielding percentage (1st, league record); San Jose .976 (2nd)

My prediction: These teams are extremely close. Quakes in 5.

It looked like the Quakes were headed back to Lake Elsinore for a decisive Game 5.

But trailing 5-2, the Quakes rallied for a run in the eighth and then three in the ninth against Cal League record-breaking closer Brad Brach.

Angel Castillo's bases-loaded two-run double with two outs against Brach scored the tying and winning runs as the Quakes won 6-5 to advance to the Cal League Championship Series for the first time since 1998 by winning the series 3-1.

Eric Oliver started the rally in the eighth with an RBI single with two outs that meant Brach had to come into the game. But he had two outs and nobody on in the ninth, Alberto Rosario and Luis Jimenez singled. Gabe Jacobo, on the ninth pitch of his at-bat, eked out an infield single to just behind second base that scored Rosario to make it 5-4. Dillon Baird walked on five pitches to load the bases before Castillo hit a rocket to center that eluded center fielder Rico Noel, one-hopped the wall scoring two runs and set off a raucous celebration.

There was plenty of champagne in the dugout sprayed all over, dousing manager Keith Johnson in the process.

The Quakes will play Game 1 of the Cal League Championship Series at San Jose on Thursday. The best of five series will return to Rancho Cucamonga for Games 3, 4, and 5 Saturday-Monday. San Jose is the defending league champion, and also won in 2005 and 2007. But each of those times, San Jose had home-field advantage.

After the Quakes made a season-high seven errors (they hadn't made more than 3 in any game during the regular season) leading to four unearned runs in a 5-0 loss to Lake Elsinore in Game 1 of the South Division Finals, Quakes manager Keith Johnson had this to say.

"As bad as it was, there were positives," he said. "They only had one inning where they put up a two spot and it could've been worse. That says something about the compeitiveness of these guys."

"It's a wake-up call. We've been going so good for so long defensively."

Did the importance of the game get to them?

"I don't think so, but we'll know tomorrow (for Game 2)."

Game 2 is Sunday at 5:05 p.m. Lake Elsinore left-hander Juan Oramas (7-3, 3.00) will face Angels right-hander Joel Pineiro (10-7, 4.18 ERA) as part of a rehab assignment with the Quakes. Pineiro hasn't pitched since a July 21 loss at New York. Pineiro has been out with a strained oblique muscle and is scheduled to throw 75-80 pitches.

In what could be considered good news for Quakes fans, Pineiro has had four previous rehab stints (in 2005, 2007, and 2008) during his career, compiling a 2.05 ERA with 16 strikeouts in in 22 innings.

For the record, I thought before the playoffs began that the Quakes would meet Stockton in the California League Championship Series, because those were the 2 hottest teams entering the playoffs. Well, I'm already half wrong, as Modesto swept Stockton in the North.

But in the South, the Quakes are looking good in a surprisingly easy sweep of the Mavericks by 12-5 and 7-1 scores. Next up is first-half champion Lake Elsinore. That best-of-five series begins Saturday at Lake Elsinore. Games 3 and 4 are Monday and Tuesday in Rancho Cucamonga.

Except for a hiccup in mid-August, the Quakes seem to be a team on a mission this season. They've got power (8 home runs in 2 playoff games), as well as a team that steals bases, bunts, has good pitching, and is the best defensive team in the league.

Lake Elsinore has some very good starting pitching including Anthony Bass (8-7, 3.13 ERA) and Juan Oramas (7-3, 3.00), who figure to start the first two games against the Quakes. The Storm has a slight advantage in starting pitching and their closer, Brad Brach is the best in the league. But the Quakes have some depth, too. The bullpen allowed only one run in 9 2/3 innings in the first two playoff games, so they can't be overlooked.

My pick: Quakes in 5 

The Quakes took Game 1 of the South Division first round of the playoffs by crushing the Mavericks 12-5 in Adelanto on Wedn.esday. Game 2 is at the Epicenter in Rancho Cucamonga Thursday

It was a rout in the end, but there were three key momentum changers.

1) Top of the third inning. Quakes lead 1-0 with runners on second and third and two outs. Gabe Jacobo strikes out on a wild pitch. Catcher Trevor Coleman can't get Darwin Perez coming home or Jacobo at first, keeping the inning going. Angel Castillo hits a grand slam later in the inning to give the Quakes a 6-0 lead.

2) Bottom of the fourth inning. Having scored four runs in the bottom of the third to close the gap to 6-4, the Mavericks had two on and one out in the fourth. That prompted Quakes manager Keith Johnson to replace starter Manny Flores with Christian Scholl. Scholl induced Edilio Colina to ground into an inning-ending double play, leaving the powerful Johermyn Chavez in the on-deck circle. Chavez homered leading off the next inning.

3) Top of the sixth inning. The Quakes were clinging to a 6-5 lead and had two outs and nobody on. Reliever Tim Boyce was about to complete his third shutout inning when Mike Trout hit a high drive to straight away center field. The center field wall is higher there than the rest of the ballpark. Denny Almonte lept high to catch the ball, but it hit about 10 feet up on the wall and bounded back toward second base. By the time Almonte retrieved the ball, Johnson was waving Trout home for an inside the park home run. The home run seemed to take the life out of the Mavericks, who didn't get a baserunner in the final four innings.

For the South Division first round series between the Quakes and the Mavericks, here are the pitching matchups:

Game 1, Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. at Stater Bros. Stadium, Adelanto

Quakes LHP Manny Flores (5-9, 4.23 ERA with the Quakes; 1-1, 2.81 vs. Mavericks)

vs. Mavericks RHP Kenn Kasparek (9-5, 4.06 ERA with the Mavericks; 3-1, 2.86 vs. Quakes)

Game 2, Thursday, 7:05 p.m. at the Epicenter, Rancho Cucamonga

Mavericks LHP Jon Hesketh (3-4, 4.30; 1-0, 4.26)

vs. Quakes RHP Orangel Arenas (7-3, 4.55; 1-1, 7.48)

Game 3, Friday, 7:05 p.m. at the Epicenter, Rancho Cucamonga if necessary

Mavericks RHP Andrew Carraway (11-8, 5.33; 2-3, 8.58)

vs. Quakes RHP Garrett Richards (4-1, 3.89; 2-0, 1.42)

My prediction: Quakes in 3

The Quakes saw their South Division second-half lead trimmed to 1 game with two to play as host Lancaster routed them 12-5 on Saturday night while the second-place Mavericks were beating up on Lake Elsinore, 13-2.

Quakes starter Manaurys Correa (1-10) was battered for 10 runs on 11 hits (including three home runs) in just three innings and left with his team down 10-2. Lancaster hit four home runs in all.

Darwin Perez had three hits and drove in four runs to lead the Quakes attack, while Ikko Sumi was a perfect 4-for-4 with a double. Angel Castillo tied for the team lead with his 21st home run.

Meanwhile, the 66ers dropped to a league-worst 50-88 this season with a 9-5 setback at Modesto. Chris Gutierrez led the way for the Sixers, going 2-for-3 with three runs, while Andres Perez and Austin Gallagher drove in three and two runs, respectively.

The win by the Nuts moved them to within one game of Visalia for the North Division's final playoff spot, the wild card, with two games to play. San Jose won the first half, while Stockton has clinched the second half.

The Quakes moved one step closer to winning the second-half title by routing Lancaster 8-3 in the opener of a four-game series at Clear Channel Stadium in Lancaster on Friday night.

The win moved the Quakes (76-61 overall, 37-30 second half) two games up on both High Desert and Lake Elsinore in the second half race with three games to play. If the Quakes win the second half, they will have home-field advantage against High Desert in the first round. If it's a tie with High Desert, High Desert will host because of the head-to-head tiebreaker. If Lake Elsinore wins, the Quakes would have home-field.

On Friday, the Quakes snapped a 2-2 tie with five runs in the fifth, capped by Eric Oliver's three-run double. Darwin Perez had three hits and two RBIs and Luis Jimenez, in his first appearance since injuring his shoulder last weekend, hit a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning. Kyle Hurst (5-3) got the win, allowing two earned runs on six hits in eight innings.

The 66ers, long since eliminated from the playoff race, began a four-game series at Modesto with  4-0 loss. Juan Nicasio (12-10) and two relievers combined on a five-hitter for Modesto.

Josh Walter (1-10) took the loss, allowing four earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. Austin Yount was the only Sixer with two hits.

In the North Division playoffs, Stockton clinched the second half title with a 9-8 victory over Bakersfield. That eliminated Bakersfield completely from the playoffs and left Visalia and Modesto vying for the final spot. Visalia, which beat first-half champ San Jose on Friday, leads Modesto by 2 games with three to play.

The Quakes didn't need to win Wednesday. They had already clinched a playoff spot earlier in the evening, thanks to Lancaster's loss to Lake Elsinore.

But they didn't lay down, either. Trailing the Mavericks 8-2 in the fifth inning the Quakes scored two runs in the fifth, two in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth to win 9-8 at the Epicenter on Mike Trout's four-pitch walk-off walk with two outs. Gabe Jacobo's team-leading 21st homer of the season leading off the inning had tied the score.

It was the second time this season the Quakes rallied to win after trailing by as many as six runs. On July 12, also at home and also against the Mavericks, the Quakes trailed 7-1 in the sixth before rallying to win 8-7 on Clay Fuller's RBI single with one out in the ninth.

The offense will get much of the credit for Wednesday's win, and deservedly so. Trout had two hits, including a home run, and drove in three. Jacobo was 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs. Angel Castillo hit his 20th homer, a two-run shot, in the comeback.

But the bullpen was just as important. Michael Piazza and Matt Meyer (1-0) combined to pitch 4 1/3 hitless innings of relief after starter Orangel Arenas couldn't make it through the fifth.

After building the 8-2 lead, the Mavericks managed only one baserunner over the final four innings, a two-out walk by Jake Shaffer in the sixth. Piazza and Meyer then retired the final 10 Mavericks they faced.

The regular season ends on Monday and the Quakes and Mavericks will face each other in the first round beginning Wednesday. It remains to be determined which team will host the best-of-three first round series.

There's still a few days left in the regular minor league season, but the Arizona Fall League rosters were announced this week. The AFL is designed for prospects to get some added experience, and many of the players are either current or former Cal League players or have local ties.

Seven Angels prospects will be playing for the Mesa Solar Sox, all of whom have experience with the Quakes. Only one is currently a Quake: closer Eddie McKiernan. Most of the others were with the team earlier this year or last year: P Ryan Brasier, P Robert Fish (Miller HS alum), P Steven Geltz, SS Andrew Romine, OF Jeremy Moore, and 2005 Quake, currently with the Angels, 3B Brandon Wood.

Dodgers prospects will be playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs (managed interestingly enough by Don Mattingly), some of whom have previous experience with the 66ers: P Javy Guerra, P Justin Miller, C Matt Wallach, SS Ivan De Jesus Jr., OF Trayvon Robinson. P Jon Link (who played for Lake Elsinore) and 1B Jerry Sands (who skipped the 66ers)  are the other Dodger prospects. No current Sixers are in the AFL.

Others in the league include:

Mesa: P Kyle Smit, who was with the 66ers earlier this year before going to the Cubs in the Ted Lilly trade; ex-Dodger prospect OF Andrew Lambo, who went to Pittsburgh in the Octavio Dotel trade.

Peoria Javelinas: P Maikel Cleto, currently with the Mavericks; OF Nate Tenbrink, with the Mavericks earlier this season, Ps Patrick Urckfitz and Kyle Greenwalt, currently with Lancaster; and 1B Koby Clemens, son of Roger who led the Cal League in batting average and RBIs while with Lancaster last season.

Peoria Saguaros: 1B Chris Parmelee, a Chino Hills HS product who is currently batting .279 with six home runs for the Twins' Double-A New Britain squad; P Brad Brach, who set the Cal League record for saves this season for Lake Elsinore; 2B Cole Figueroa, also currently with Lake Elsinore.