VALLEY / VENTURA COUNTY SPORTS : Garland Garners World Series Win : Baseball: Former Kennedy High star outpitches Zito in Charlotte’s 4-2 victory over Vancouver in triple-A series.

Game three of the triple-A World Series wasn’t played at Pierce College on Thursday night, but it might have seemed like it.

Jon Garland outpitched Barry Zito and Charlotte defeated Vancouver, 4-2, at Las Vegas, striking out eight in 7 2/3 innings.

Charlotte leads the best-of-five series, 2-1.

The victory came in Garland’s first triple-A start. He was promoted from double-A about a week before the end of the regular season and made two appearances.

“I’m just glad to be in triple-A and get this chance to pitch,” said Garland, who was cheered on by about 20 friends and family members, including his cousin and pitching coach, former Cal State Northridge left-hander John Bushart.

Garland, 19, was a first-round pick of the Chicago Cubs out of Kennedy High in 1997. His most memorable high school victory came against Antelope Valley and fellow phenom Sean Douglass in front of more than 100 scouts at Pierce.

Zito, 21, was an All-American at Pierce in 1998 before transferring to USC. He was drafted in the first round by the Oakland Athletics and quickly ascended the minor league ladder.

Zito took the loss, allowing three runs in the fourth inning, including home runs by Jeff Abbott and Jeff Liefer.

After being traded to the Chicago White Sox last year, Garland advanced slowly, going 5-7 with a 3.33 earned-run average at Class-A Winston-Salem and 3-1 with a 4.38 ERA at double-A Birmingham this year.

“Garland has great arm strength,” manager Tom Spencer of Charlotte said. “We feel very comfortable with him. I don’t want to make this comparison right now, but he has a sinker that could be like Kevin Brown’s.”