San Jose Giants Top Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 7-5 - Advanced A, California League

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SAN JOSE, CALIF July 4, 2008 – The San Jose Giants scored five runs – all with two outs – in the bottom of the third inning en route to a 7-5 victory over the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Friday night in front of a sellout crowd of 5,111 at Municipal Stadium.  The Giants, who have now matched a season-high
ADVERTISEMENT with their sixth consecutive win, held off a late Quakes rally as Rancho Cucamonga stranded the potential tying runs on base in the ninth inning.  With the victory, San Jose improves their overall record to 55-30 – tops in all of minor league baseball.
 
Andy D'Alessio (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Brad Boyer (2-for-3, 2 RBI) and Bobby Felmy (2-for-3) all came through with clutch hits in the third inning rally to lead the Giants offensive attack.  
 
With the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the third, Brock Bond was hit by a pitch with two outs before Felmy reached on an infield single to third base.  Brett Pill followed by drawing a walk, but the ball four pitch skipped past Quakes catcher C.J. Bressoud and toward the backstop.  The wild pitch allowed Bond to score the go-ahead run as Felmy advanced to third and Pill moved all the way to second.  D'Alessio then stepped to the plate and grounded a single up the middle to score two more runs for a 4-1 advantage.  Then after a walk to Dayton Buller, Boyer hammered a two-run triple to the gap in right center field capping the third-inning scoring.
 
Tim Alderson (8-3) was credited with the victory after surrendering four runs (all earned) on six hits over five innings.  Alderson walked two and matched a season-high with eight strikeouts.  
 
Rancho Cucamonga scored twice off of Alderson in the top of the fourth before the Giants answered with a single tally in the bottom of the inning.  Mike McBryde started the frame with a single before moving to second on Tyler Graham's ground out.  After McBryde stole third, Bond grounded out to shortstop scoring the run for a 7-3 lead.
 
Rancho Cucamonga's P.J. Phillips smacked a solo home run in the fifth inning bringing the Quakes to within 7-4.  Alderson though would recover to strikeout the next two hitters to complete his outing.
 
Taylor Wilding (3 1/3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO) was impressive out of the Giants bullpen after he entered the game to begin the top of the sixth.  Wilding retired the first 10 Quakes batters he faced until allowing a one-out single to Drew Toussaint in the top of the ninth.  After a walk to the next hitter, Ryan Mount, the Giants brought in their closer Dan Otero.  Otero set down the first hitter he faced on a ground out before Anthony Norman lined a single into left field to score Toussaint and put the potential tying run on base.  But Otero responded to strikeout Peter Bourjos on three pitches to end the game.
 
The Giants initially jumped in front with a single run in the bottom of the second inning.  Pill led off with a double into the left field corner and immediately scored when the next batter, D'Alessio, lined a single to right center.
 
Rancho Cucamonga though quickly tied the score when Mount hit Alderson's first pitch of the third inning over the fence in right field.  Alderson did finish his evening with at least one strikeout in every inning he pitched.
 
Notes: The Giants have won 10 out of their last 11 games … Otero picked up his second save in as many games … Felmy extended his hitting streak to nine games to improve his season batting average to .303 … San Jose was playing their first home game since June 21 … Friday's game was the first this season between the Giants and Quakes … Rancho Cucamonga had been the only team that San Jose had not played this season … The Giants out-hit the Quakes by a 9-8 margin … Friday marked San Jose's second home sellout of the year.
 
On Deck: The Giants and Quakes continue this three-game series on Saturday evening with first pitch at Municipal Stadium scheduled for 6:30 P.M.  A spectacular fireworks show will follow the game and a limited number of general admission tickets are still available.  Tickets can be purchased by calling (408) 297-1435 or by visiting www.sjgiants.com.  Chris Begg (1-0, 1.50 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Rancho Cucamonga is expected to counter with Tommy Mendoza (3-10, 4.57 ERA).  
 

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