The Playoff Picture (as of September 18)
 Garrett Richards struck out eight and gave up only two hits in seven innings as the Quakes evened the series Friday night at San Jose. |
The Quakes are on a bus somewhere in Central California as they head home to Rancho Cucamonga for Game #3 of their championship series against San Jose.
The Giants are on their own bus, but they face the challenge of winning two out of three on the road if they want to capture the flag. The Quakes must win two out of three as well, but they’ll do it in front of their own fans.
Quakes ace Garrett Richards delivered last night, allowing only one run on two hits while striking out eight and walking only one.
The unlikely hero was Jon Townsend, a utility infielder who evolved into the Quakes’ starting second baseman most nights in the second half. Townsend, an undrafted college senior signed in July 2008 by Tom Kotchman, hit only .243 in 2010 and had a slugging percentage of just .354.
But Jon had a career game last night, three for four with a homer and double for 2 RBI.
So it’s on to Game #3 tonight at The Epicenter.
Ryan Chaffee is the scheduled starting pitcher for Rancho Cucamonga. Considered one of the Angels’ better pitching prospects, Chaffee (another Tom Kotchman sign) was 8-8 with a 4.33 ERA in 2009 for Cedar Rapids.
2010 has been a disaster. Chaffee lost his confidence and his control, ending the season 7-6 with a 6.36 ERA in 20 starts (104 2/3 innings). But in his last three regular-season starts, Ryan showed a glimmer of hope, giving up five earned runs in 20 1/3 innings with 16 strikeouts and three walks. Chaffee also won the deciding game of the Quakes’ three-game series with Lake Elsinore on September 13, allowing one run on two hits in seven innings with five strikeouts and four walks.
Chaffee will face Kyle Woodruff, who was 3-3 with a 3.02 ERA in 83 1/3 innings for San Jose. Woodruff was a reliever until he moved into the Giants’ starting rotation in late July, making eight starts in the second half. As a starter, Woodruff had a 2.70 ERA. Kyle started for San Jose at The Epicenter on July 27, giving up two runs on four hits in six innings.
Meanwhile, nothing new on the Quakes-Dodgers affiliation rumor. I’ve checked with several sources, and about all I’ve been able to determine is … well, there’s this rumor.
FutureAngels.com 