Surkamp earns 5th win, Grizzlies win 6-1

Papillion, Ne.--The Fresno Grizzlies (59-66) scored four times in the first inning en route to a 6-1 win over the Omaha Storm Chasers (62-64) on Thursday night at Werner Park. 

Center fielder Gary Brown led off the game with a single to center, and then he stole second. Shortstop Ehire Adrianza then moved Brown to third on a bunt single. Second baseman Tony Abreu followed with an infield single to shortstop which scored Brown, and that made it 1-0. The other run-producing plays in the inning involved catcher Guillermo Quiroz in first Fresno plate appearance get hit with the bases loaded, and, then third baseman Carter Jurica on a two-out full-count pitch rip a ball into left field for a two-run single. 

That was enough padding for Fresno left-handed starter Eric Surkamp (5-1). For the fourth straight outing he went exactly seven innings, and gave up exactly one earned run. He allowed six hits, one walk, and fanned five. His only blemish was giving up a third inning homer to left field by Omaha right fielder Paulo Orlando (4). Omaha left-hander John Lamb (0-1) in his AAA debut gave up five runs (all earned) in five innings. He issued six hits, he walked, and struck out five, and hit a batter. 

Fresno right-handers Fabio Castillo, and Mason Tobin each pitched a scoreless inning.

The other Fresno runs came on a third inning sacrifice fly by right fielder Juan Perez, and a single by left fielder Francisco Peguero in the ninth inning.

Fresno, and Omaha split the four-game series two-and-two. It's the sixth straight series in eastern Nebraska where the teams have accomplished an even split: 2002, 2004-05, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013. On this road trip, Fresno went 3-5.

The Grizzlies head home to face the Reno Aces for the first of a five-game series on Friday night at 7:05. Right-hander Zeke Spruill (4-3) will pitch for Reno against Fresno left-hander Michael Kickham (6-7) at Chukchansi Park.