Giants Win in 10 Innings, Take 2010 Title
The Giants win the Best-of-5 Championship, 3-2 and claim back-to-back Pennants for the first time in their franchise's history.
Charlie Culberson's sac fly to right field scored Juan Perez with what turned out to be the winning run.
After an incredible rally by the Quakes to force extras, the Giants put together the series-winning rally against closer Eddie McKiernan (0-1) in the top of the tenth. With one out, Juan Perez tripled to right field. Consecutive walks, one of which was intentional, loaded the bases, setting up the battle between McKiernan and Culberson. Culberson drove a pitch deep enough to right field for Perez to tag and score, putting the Giants in front at 7-6.
Giants' closer Jason Stoffel retired the first two men he faced in the bottom of the tenth, but hit Mike Trout on a 3-2 pitch, giving the Quakes some life. With Darwin Perez at the plate, Trout stole second and advanced to third base on an errant throw by catcher Johnny Monell. But on the very next pitch, Perez swung and missed at a 1-2 breaking ball, ending the game.
The Quakes rallied from a three-run deficit and had a chance to take the lead in the eighth. After Luis Jimenez singled home Trout in the seventh, making it a 6-4 game, the Quakes tied it with two in the eighth. Alberto Rosario's one-out single to right scored Angel Castillo and Matt Long, tying the game at 6-6. With Rosario at second base and one out, Trout was intentionally walked. Perez followed by walking to load the bases. Stoffel (2-0) was brought in to the game and came up clutch, striking out Jimenez for the second out and popping up Gabe Jacobo to end the threat and keep the game tied.
Monday's Championship Finale went back and forth, with the Quakes getting on the board in the first inning, as Trout singled and scored on Jacobo's sac fly, making it 1-0.
Brandon Crawford's two-run blast gave the Giants a 2-1 lead over Quakes' starter Kyle Hurst.
Jimenez tripled home the tying run in the third, driving home Perez to make it 2-2.
The Giants took the lead over Quakes' reliever Christian Scholl, scoring twice in the fifth. Culberson drove home a run to make it 3-2. Scholl later walked a man with the bases loaded to force home another, as the Giants made it 4-2.
Again Rancho answered in the fifth, as Rosario doubled and scored on Perez's RBI groundout, bringing San Jose's lead to one at 4-3.
The Giants countered with two in the seventh, as Quakes' reliever Matt Meyer walked consecutive hitters, then gave up an RBI groundout to Ehire Adrianza, making it 5-3.
Matt Oye entered for the Quakes and surrendered an RBI double to pinch-hitter Michael Sandoval, putting the Giants up 6-3.
San Jose's Monell won the Series MVP Award, as he led the Giants with three homers in the Championship Series.
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes would like to congratulate Manager Brian Harper and the San Jose Giants on their 2010 California League Championship.
The Quakes would also like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who helped to make the 2010 season, such a memorable one. THANK YOU to our fans, to our Season Ticket Holders, the Mini-Season Ticket Holders, the Groups, the Corporate Partners and Sponsors, the Booster Club, the City of Rancho Cucamonga, the Players, the Coaches and the entire Quakes' part-time and full-time staff. THANK YOU for an incredible year.
We hope to see you again at The Epicenter in 2011...until then...Go Quakes!