If you’re going to have the game of your career, what better time to do it than in a championship series game. That’s exactly what Dodgers pitching prospect Scott Barlow did on Friday night in Game-2 of the California League Championship Series when he led the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes to a 4-3 win over the San Jose Giants to give the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Barlow, who was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the 2011 MLB First Year Player Draft out of Golden Valley High School in Santa Clarita, California, took a perfect game into the fifth inning when Giants designated hitter Brian Ragira hit a one-out double to right. Ragira would come around to score on the next play when Giants catcher Ty Ross singled him home. That would be the only run that Barlow would yield in his seven outstanding innings of work that included only four hits, a career-high 11 strikeouts and no walks.

“I didn’t really change much, I really tried to attack the zone,” said Barlow after the game. “I just tried to let them hit the ball, trust [Quakes catcher Spencer] Navin with what fingers he was putting down, and just do my best with executing pitches.”

Barlow picked the right night to have his career game. He struck out a career-high 11 to help move the Quakes to within one game of their first Cal League Championship as a Dodgers affiliate.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

But as good as Barlow was for the Quakes, Giants starter Jordan Johnson matched him almost pitch for pitch. In fact, the Giants right-hander allowed only one unearned run on four hits while striking out nine and walking only one through six innings of work.

Much like they did on Thursday night when they scored seven runs in the sixth inning en route to a 12-3 win in the series opener, the Quakes put together another big inning which was the difference in the game – this time in the bottom of the seventh inning.

With Johnson now out of the game, Giants manager Russ Morman brought in submariner right-hander Tyler Rogers, who promptly struck out Quakes right fielder Joey Curletta. But Curletta would prove to be the only Quakes batter to be fooled by Rogers’ sidearm delivery. He walked Navin and Quakes shortstop Tim Locastro and then gave up back-to-back singles to second baseman Willie Calhoun and left fielder Jacob Scavuzzo plating Navin. After Quakes first baseman Cody Bellinger went down on strikes, center fielder Alex Verdugo laced a sharp single to right scoring Calhoun and Scavuzzo to make it a 4-1 ball game.

As he seems to do almost every night, Alex Verdugo once again came up with a clutch hit – this time a bases loaded single – to drive in two runs. It would prove to be the game-winning hit.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Quakes left-hander Michael Johnson relieved Barlow in the top of the eighth and promptly struck out the side. Johnson then handed the ball to Quakes closer Joshua Sborz to seal the deal, but the Giants refused to give up. After four singles and three wild pitches, Sborz finally got Ross to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.

Immediately following Friday night’s game both teams boarded their respective buses for the six-hour ride to San Jose, where Game-3 will be played this evening and Games-4 and 5 (if necessary) on Sunday and Monday. While the Giants are hoping desperately that there will be a Game-5, the Quakes are hoping to collect their first Cal League Championship since 1994 (as a Padres affiliate) and their first ever championship as a Dodgers affiliate tonight.

The Quakes will send right-hander Trevor Oaks (3-0, 3.04 ERA) to the mound. He will be opposed by Giants left-hander Christian Jones (6-2, 3.50 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7 pm and the game can be heard on FOX Sports 1350 AM in the Riverside/San Bernardino area or on-line through Tunein Radio. Fans can also listen on their smartphones by downloading the free iHeart Radio app and entering KTDD in the search box.