Giants Held To Three Hits In Game Two Loss
Published on September 18, 2010 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release
Rancho Cucamonga's Garrett Richards struck out eight and allowed just one run over seven dominant innings to lead the Quakes to a 4-2 win over the San Jose Giants in Game Two of the Championship Series on Friday evening at Municipal Stadium. Johnny Monell hit a pair of solo home runs for the Giants in the loss as Rancho Cucamonga draws even 1-1 in the best-of-five series.
Richards, a former first round draft pick, surrendered only two hits and walked one during his stint on the mound. The right-hander, who topped out at 101 miles per hour and routinely sat in the upper 90's, did not allow a hit after the third inning.
Monell (2-for-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI) was responsible for both of San Jose's runs with a solo homer in the second inning and a solo shot in the ninth.
Rancho Cucamonga took an early 1-0 lead with a single run in the top of the second inning against Giants starter Kelvin Marte. Dillon Baird began the frame by drawing a walk before advancing to second on a wild pitch. After Angel Castillo flied out, Jon Townsend stepped to the plate and hammered a double into the left field corner to score Baird with the first run of the evening.
San Jose answered in the bottom of the second inning with their only run against Richards as Monell led off with a towering home run to deep right field. In the bottom of the third, Francisco Peguero singled with two outs, but the Giants would not record another a hit in the contest until the ninth inning.
The Quakes took the lead for good in the top of the fourth as Townsend crushed a two-out, solo homer to deep left center field. The home run was Townsend's first of the postseason.
Marte suffered the loss for San Jose after yielding two runs (both earned) on three hits over five innings of work. Marte walked two and struck out five. The left-hander retired nine out of the last 10 batters that he faced.
Rancho Cucamonga added to their lead with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings against the Giants bullpen. Facing Hector Correa in the sixth, Luis Jimenez led off with a double before coming home on Baird's one-out single into right.
In the seventh, Alberto Rosario led off with a single before moving to second on a Correa wild pitch. Correa retired the next two hitters, but new pitcher Edwin Quirarte allowed a two-out, RBI single to Jimenez to make it 4-1.
Richards retired 10 consecutive Giants hitters, including four via the strikeout, until issuing a two-out walk to Brandon Crawford in the bottom of the seventh. Richards though recovered to strikeout Ehire Adrianza to end the inning.
Quakes reliever Jose Perez struck out two in a perfect bottom of the eighth before closer Eddie McKiernan pitched the ninth. McKiernan set down the first two batters of the final inning before Monell stepped to the plate and belted a solo homer to deep right center. However, with the potential tying run in the on-deck circle, McKiernan struck out Charlie Culberson on a 3-2 pitch to end the game.
California League Stories from September 18, 2010
- Championship Series Visits Epicenter Tonight - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Quakes Even Championship Series After 4-2 Win - Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
- Giants Held To Three Hits In Game Two Loss - San Jose Giants
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