Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short In Game 2 Loss

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes took a two-games-to-none lead in the best-of-five Championship Series with a 4-3 victory over the San Jose Giants on Friday evening at LoanMart Field. San Jose scored twice in the top of the ninth to pull to within a run and had the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base before their rally fell short.

The series now shifts to Municipal Stadium for Game 3 on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM with the Giants needing a win to keep their championship aspirations alive. San Jose would also host Games 4 and 5 on Sunday and Monday respectively.

Angel Villalona (2-for-4, RBI) and Brian Ragira (2-for-4, 2B) had two hits apiece to lead the Giants offensively in the Game 2 defeat.

The game was tied 1-1 until Rancho Cucamonga pushed across three runs against San Jose reliever Tyler Rogers in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Spencer Navin drew a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Rogers then walked Tim Locastro on four pitches to put runners on first and second. Willie Calhoun followed with a grounder into the hole at shortstop that deflected off the glove of Christian Arroyo. Calhoun was credited with an infield single as the Quakes loaded the bases. Jacob Scavuzzo was up next and he ripped a Rogers pitch into right for a single as Navin came home with the go-ahead run. Rogers recovered to strikeout the next hitter, Cody Bellinger, but then Alex Verdugo bounced a single into left plating two more for a 4-1 Rancho Cucamonga advantage.

Quakes reliever Michael Johnson struck out the side in a perfect top of the eighth before the Giants rallied in the ninth. Still down by three runs, the inning began with a single from Chuckie Jones off of Rancho Cucamonga closer Josh Sborz. A wild pitch moved Jones to second before Brandon Bednar's deep fly out to left advanced the runner to third. Arroyo then hit a grounder off the glove of Sborz for an infield single as Jones came home to trim the deficit to 4-2. Back-to-back wild pitches moved Arroyo all the way to third before Villalona laced an RBI single into right. The hit brought San Jose to within 4-3. Ragira was up next and he lined a single into shallow left center advancing pinch-runner John Polonius, the potential tying run, to second. Ty Ross though hit the first pitch of his at-bat on the ground to third that saw Rancho Cucamonga turn a game-ending 5-4-3 double play.

Quakes starter Scott Barlow (1-1) picked-up the win after tossing seven strong innings with just one run allowed. Barlow struck out a career-high 11, walked none and surrendered just four hits. Sborz earned his second save of the playoffs.

Rogers (1-2) allowed three runs (all earned) on three hits over 2/3 of an inning to take the loss.

Jordan Johnson started on the mound for the Giants and began his outing with two scoreless innings. Rancho Cucamonga then plated a run in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead. Navin led off with a grounder to third and reached safely when third baseman Jonah Arenado threw the ball away for an error. A wild pitch moved Navin to second and then Lacastro singled sharply into right center scoring the run.

Meanwhile, Barlow began his start by retiring 13 straight San Jose hitters, nine of which came via the strikeout. With one out in the top of the fifth, Ragira smacked a double into the right field corner for the Giants' first baserunner of the game. Ross then blooped a single down the right field line to plate Ragira with the tying run.

Johnson retired the Quakes 1-2-3 in the fourth and fifth innings combining for four strikeouts during the two frames. With the score still tied 1-1, Rancho Cucamonga threatened in the bottom of the sixth. Scavuzzo led off with a single off the left field fence before Johnson retired the next two batters. Tyler Ogle was then hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, but Johnson came back to strikeout Paul Hoenecke ending the inning.

The Giants though were unable to take the lead as Barlow needed just five pitches to work through the top of the seventh before Rancho Cucamonga moved back in front in the bottom of the inning.

Notes:
* San Jose out-hit Rancho Cucamonga 8-7.  
* Four of the Giants' eight hits came in the ninth inning.
* Quakes pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts and no walks.
* San Jose finishes with a 2-5 record in postseason road games (2-0 in elimination games).

On Deck: The Giants and Quakes play Game 3 of the best-of-five Championship Series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 7:00 PM. Christian Jones (6-2, 3.50 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Rancho Cucamonga is expected to counter with Trevor Oaks (3-0, 3.04 ERA). A fireworks show presented by Pyro Spectacular will follow the game. For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com. The game will be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104.