The San Jose Giants open the California League Championship Series on
Thursday evening with Game One against the Lake Elsinore Storm. The
first two games of the best-of-five series will be played at Lake
Elsinore before the Giants host the next three contests. San Jose
defeated the Visalia Oaks, three-games-to-one, to win the North
Division crown. The Storm knocked off the Lancaster JetHawks to claim
the South Division title.Championship Series (Best-of-Five):
Game 1 (Sept. 13): at Lake Elsinore, 7:07 P.M.
Game 2 (Sept. 14): at Lake Elsinore, 7:07 P.M.
Game 3 (Sept. 15): at San Jose, 5:00 P.M.
Game 4 (Sept. 16): at San Jose, 5:00 P.M. *
Game 5 (Sept. 17): at San Jose, 7:00 P.M. *
* if necessary
Ticket Information
Tickets for San Jose Giants home playoff games are available and can be purchased by calling (408)297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.
Audio Broadcast
The entire Championship Series can be heard live on www.sjgiants.com with Joe Ritzo calling all of the action.
Probable Starting Pitchers
Game 1 - SJ: Paul Oseguera (10-6, 3.54) at LE: Steve Garrison (2-3, 2.79)
Game 2 - SJ: Adam Cowart (14-7, 2.39 in Augusta) at LE: Nathan Culp (5-4, 4.81)
Game 3 - LE: Stephen Faris (2-0, 4.09) at SJ: Joe Martinez (10-10, 4.26)
Game 4 - LE: Cory Luebke (1-1, 7.71) at SJ: Darren Sack (1-2, 4.22)
Game 5 - LE: TBA at SJ: Henry Sosa (5-5, 4.38)
Giants Notes
* The Giants finished the regular season with a 73-67 record. San Jose won the North Division First Half title with a 39-31 mark - four games ahead of Stockton (35-35) and five games in front of Modesto (34-36) and Visalia (34-36). The Giants went wire-to-wire to claim the First Half title. In the Second Half, San Jose ended 34-36 - nine games behind the Oaks (43-27).
* The Giants defeated Visalia, three-games-to-one, in the North Division Series. San Jose recorded consecutive shutouts (1-0 and 5-0) at home to begin the series before falling by a 6-3 score at Visalia in Game Three. The Giants though rebounded to win, 7-5, in Game Four to advance to the Championship Series. Individually, second baseman Travis Denker (.538 AVG, 7-for-13, 3 HR, 6 RBI) was the top offensive performer for San Jose.
* Lenn Sakata has taken all six of his San Jose teams to the postseason (1999, 2001, 2004-2007). The winningest manager in California League history, Sakata won championships in 2001 and 2005. The Giants split the '01 title with Lake Elsinore (championship series postponed due to 9/11) while they defeated the Storm in five games during the '05 finals. Sakata also took his 2000 Bakersfield Blaze team (a San Francisco Giants affiliate) to the postseason. San Jose's other championship came in 1998.
* San Jose's End-Of-Season Awards: MVP - Antoan Richardson, Pitcher of the Year - Paul Oseguera, Offensive Player of the Year - Pablo Sandoval, Defensive Player of the Year - Brian Bocock, Relief Pitcher of the Year - Sergio Romo.
* The Giants finished the regular season with the lowest team ERA in the California League at 3.81 - 41 points lower than the next-closest club (Lake Elsinore, 4.22). The San Jose pitching staff led the league in strikeouts (1,234) while also allowing the fewest hits (1,159) and home runs (96). Individually, Paul Oseguera (4th, 3.54) and Joe Martinez (7th, 4.26) both ranked among the league leaders in ERA. Martinez won the strikeout crown (151) while Oseguera finished fifth (132).
* Outfielder Fred Lewis is expected to remain with San Jose for the Championship Series. Lewis, who is on a rehab assignment as he recovers from a foot/ankle injury, has split time this season between Fresno (AAA) and San Francisco. A San Jose Giant in 2004, Lewis went 3-for-11 (.273 AVG) with two home runs and three RBI in three games during the North Division Series. To make room for Lewis, Richardson was taken off the roster. Richardson missed the final 27 games of the regular season with an ankle injury and despite playing in Game One of the North Division Series against Visalia, he is still not at 100%.
* The Giants set a franchise record for victories in April when they racked up a 17-8 record en route to the First Half title. San Jose posted their first losing month of the season in August (9-19). Other month results include: May (14-14), June (14-13), July (17-12), and September (2-1).
* The San Jose Giants, in their 20th year of existence, set single-season attendance records this year. San Jose achieved new marks in both total attendance (171,028) and average fans per game (2,479).
* Relief pitcher Taylor Wilding (39 G, 4-2, 2.54 ERA, 12 SV) was San Jose's lone representative on the in-season and post-season California League All-Star teams.
Lake Elsinore Notes
* The Storm, an affiliate of the San Diego Padres, finished the regular season with a 74-65 record. They defeated Inland Empire, two-games-to-one, in the Mini-Series before handling Lancaster in four games during the South Division Series.
* Carlos Lezcano is in his first season as manager of the Storm. Lezcano spent two seasons at the helm of the San Jose Giants in 1995 and 1996. His '96 team lost to Lake Elsinore in the Championship Series.
* The Storm finished the regular season second in the California League in batting average (.284), second in runs scored (6.3 per game), and third in home runs (148). On the mound, Lake Elsinore was second in team ERA (4.22).
* First baseman/DH Kyle Blanks (.301 AVG, 24 HR, 100 RBI), third baseman David Freese (.302 AVG, 17 HR, 96 RBI), and first baseman Craig Cooper (.317 AVG, 10 HR, 78 RBI) lead the Storm offensive attack. Steve Garrison, who will start Game One on the mound, was acquired via trade from the Milwaukee Brewers last July.
Giants-Storm Championship Series History
* This year marks the third Championship Series match-up between San Jose and Lake Elsinore. In 1996, the Storm won in five games before the Giants won a five-game series in 2005. Two years ago, Lake Elsinore won twice at home to begin the series. San Jose though returned home and won three straight to claim the title. The clubs split the 2001 championship (without a game played in the series) due to the 9/11 tragedy.
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