CalL1 San Jose Giants

Surkamp's 14 Strikeouts Lead Giants To 3-0 Win

Published on July 8, 2010 under California League (CalL1)
San Jose Giants News Release


Eric Surkamp struck out a career-high 14 over seven shutout innings as the San Jose Giants blanked the Stockton Ports by a 3-0 score on Wednesday evening at Banner Island Ballpark. In the opener of a three-game series, Surkamp limited the Ports to a pair of hits before Brian Anderson and Jason Stoffel each tossed an inning of relief to complete the shutout. The victory improves San Jose's record to 49-35.

Surkamp (4-1) took a no-hitter in the bottom of the sixth and struck out at least one batter in all seven of his innings. The left-hander yielded just two singles and two walks during his 101-pitch performance. Anderson (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 SO) induced three groundouts in a perfect bottom of the eighth before Stoffel (1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 SO) struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 ninth to earn the save.

Francisco Peguero (2-for-3, RBI, SB) and Charlie Culberson (2-for-4, RBI, SB) each collected a pair of hits while Johnny Monell (1-for-3, HR, RBI) belted his seventh home run of the season to lead the Giants offensive attack.

San Jose took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning as James Simmons led off with a single, advanced to second on Wendell Fairley's one-out single and then scored on Peguero's line drive single into right center.

Monell extended the Giants lead to 2-0 in the top of the fourth with a towering solo home run to right center.

San Jose's final run of the contest came in the top of the eighth as Peguero singled with one out, stole second, advanced to third when the throw sailed into center field and then came home on Culberson's two-out bloop single into right.

Surkamp began his outing with eight strikeouts in the first three innings. The Giants starter fanned a pair to begin the bottom of the first before striking out three hitters in the second and third frames.

In the bottom of the fourth, Stephen Parker was hit by a pitch to leadoff, but Surkamp recovered to strikeout Mike Spina before Jeremy Barfield lined into a double play to first base.

Surkamp used two more strikeouts to toss a perfect fifth inning before Ryan Ortiz broke up the no-hitter with a line drive single into center to begin the sixth. Surkamp responded by setting down the next three hitters, including strikeouts of Grant Green and Parker to end the inning.

Stockton's best chance to score against Surkamp came in the bottom of the seventh as Spina led off with a single up the middle before Barfield drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Surkamp though retired Tyler Ladendorf and Todd Johnson on consecutive fly outs before Kent Walton struck out looking.

Anderson needed only eight pitches to retire the side in the eighth while Stoffel set down Parker on a fly out to begin the bottom of the ninth before back-to-back strikeouts of Spina and Barfield ended the game.

Ports starter Shawn Haviland (6-6) suffered the loss after surrendering two runs (both earned) on seven hits over seven innings. Haviland, who induced double play groundouts to end the third, fourth and sixth innings, walked one and struck out seven.

Notes: Giants pitchers combined for 16 strikeouts and only two walks ... Surkamp's 14 strikeouts were the most for any San Jose pitcher in a game this season ... He eclipsed his career-high by two ... Surkamp struck out every hitter in the Ports lineup with exception of Barfield ... Monell homered for the second time in the last four games ... The Giants out-hit Stockton by a 9-2 margin ... Stoffel picked-up his first save since June 13 (Bakersfield) ... San Jose improved to 2-2 on their current road trip.

On Deck: The Giants and Ports continue their three-game series on Thursday evening with first pitch at Banner Island Ballpark scheduled for 7:05 PM. Justin Fitzgerald (5-2, 3.27 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while Stockton is expected to counter with Michael Madsen (1-3, 3.63 ERA). The game will be televised live on Comcast Hometown Network, Channel 104.

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California League Stories from July 8, 2010


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