The San Jose Giants further solidified their playoff position with a fourth-straight win at Rancho Cucamonga on Friday night, knocking off the Quakes 8-4. The Giants struck for five runs in the seventh inning on a bases-clearing double by C Fabian Pena and a two-run homer by DH Patrick Bailey his second of the night, to erase a 4-3 deficit.
The win pulled San Jose (59-35) to within three games of first-place Fresno (62-32) for the top spot in the Cal League while stretching it’s lead for the final playoff spot over Rancho Cucamonga (51-42) to 7 1/2 games.
After a scoreless first inning that saw rehabbing Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Joe Kelly throw 16 pitches and get one strikeout while walking two, the Giants got on the board in the second inning. New Giant CF Grant McCray homered in his first AB, a solo shot for a 1-0 San Jose lead.
In the fourth inning, Bailey extended the lead to 2-0 on a solo shot, his first of two on the night. The Quakes got up off the deck in the bottom of the fourth with four runs to take a 4-2 lead. An RBI groundout by 1B Imanol Vargas made it 2-1, San Jose, before LF Edwin Mateo doubled in a pair to give Rancho the lead at 3-2. Another run came in on a fielding error to make it 4-2, Quakes, but was it for the Rancho Cucamonga offense.
San Jose starter Wil Jensen went six IP and allowed the four runs, three earned, on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. He and three relievers put zeroes up on the board the rest of the way while the Giants’ offense took back the lead.
The visitors scratched for a run in the fifth on a walk to 2B Ghordy Santos, a SB, a wild pitch and a throwing error to make it 4-3, Quakes. Then came the five-run fifth that saw the Giants take the lead for good. Bailey’s second homer was his third with San Jose this year. He went 3-for-5 on the night with three RBIs.
Quakes RHP Robbie Peto came on in relief of Kelly in the first inning and went 5 2/3 IP, giving up three runs (two ER), five hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.
Rancho Cucamonga had an opportunity to make a move for the playoffs with this series but San Jose has won the first four games and made the final two games crucial for the Quakes.
SCOREBOARD
FRESNO – 2
VISALIA – 3
10 Innings
STOCKTON – 5
MODESTO – 6
LAKE ELSINORE – 3
INLAND EMPIRE – 6
