Championship Rotations Set
San Jose, CA - The 2010 California League Championship Series will begin tonight, as the San Jose Giants will host the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes at 7:00pm.
The Quakes are making just their third trip in franchise history to the Championship Round and are seeking just their second Title and their first since 1994. The last time the Quakes made it to the League Championship Series, they were downed by San Jose in four games.
The Giants meanwhile, are making their second consecutive trip to the League Championship Series. The Giants swept the High Desert Mavericks last year and are now looking to win back-to-back Championships for the first time in team history.
Pitching match-ups have been set for the first four game games of the five-game set.
The Quakes will send Orangel Arenas (1-0) to the mound this evening, in the opening game of the series, as he makes his second start of the post-season. Arenas went 7-3 in the regular season, with an ERA of 4.55 in 17 starts. Arenas made his Cal League debut at San Jose Municipal Stadium back on May 30th, but struggled in his first game as a Quake, allowing six runs (five earned) on five hits over just four innings in the no-decision. He bounced back to turn in a quality start against the Giants at The Epicenter on July 29th, when he allowed three runs on five hits over six innings, picking up the win.
Arenas' counterpart for Game 1 will be Giants' right-hander Justin Fitzgerald (1-0), who is making his second post-season start. Fitzgerald went 0-1 against the Quakes in two head-to-head starts in 2010. Overall this year, Fitzgerald was strong, going 10-6 with an ERA of 3.45 in 26 games (25 starts).
Game 2 from San Jose will feature Quakes' right-hander Garrett Richards (0-1) matching up with Kelvin Marte (0-0), with each hurler making their second post-season start, respectively. Friday's game will begin at 7:00pm.
Game 3 marks the first Championship Series Game from The Epicenter since 1998, as your Quakes will send right-hander Ryan Chaffee (1-0) to the mound against San Jose's Kyle Woodruff (1-0) at 7:05pm.
If Game 4 is necessary, the Quakes will go with left-hander Manny Flores (0-0) who would make his team-leading third start of the Cal League Playoffs. The Giants would go with Oliver Odle (0-0), who has yet to make his post-season debut in 2010. Game time from The Epicenter on Sunday for Game 4 would be 5:05pm.
Finally, should it come down to a winner-take-all in Game 5, the Quakes would send right-hander Kyle Hurst (0-0) to the hill in his first post-season appearance. The Giants have not yet named a starter should the series go to a fifth game. Game time from The Epicenter would be 7:05pm.
Tonight's game and all Playoff Games can be heard live on AM 1510 The SPA and online at rcquakes.com.
Saturday's game at The Epicenter will feature $1 Hot Dogs, as everyone will enjoy "dollar dogs" throughout the night. Gates open at 6:05pm and game time is 7:05pm at The Epicenter.
Tickets for Saturday's Championship Series game at The Epicenter are available on Wednesday morning, by calling (909) 481-5000 or by stopping by The Epicenter Ticket Office. Playoff Ticket Packages are also available online at rcquakes.com.
Come support your Quakes, as they look for their first Cal League Title since 1994. Thanks for a great regular season. We hope to see you for the 2010 California League Playoffs...Go Quakes!