Begg baffles 51s with complete-game gem

Chris Begg pitched the first complete-game shutout in the Pacific Coast League this season as the Fresno Grizzlies beat the Las Vegas 51s, 3-0, on Thursday night at Cashman Field.

Begg (4-1) allowed three hits, walked one and struck out four to win his third straight start. The 27-year-old right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.88 and has allowed just two earned runs over his last three starts, spanning 21 innings.

After yielding a two-out single to Choo Freeman in the second inning, Begg did not allow another hit until Ken Huckaby led off the sixth with a base hit up the middle. Octavio Martinez singled with one out in the ninth, but Begg got Wilson Valdez to bounce into a game-ending double play.

Nate Schierholtz lifted a sacrifice fly in the first to give the Grizzlies (32-38) a 1-0 lead. Luis Figueroa led off the sixth with a single and, one out later, Scott McClain sent a drive over the right-field fence for his seventh homer to cap the scoring.

Miguel Pinango (2-2) lost his second straight start after giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over six innings.

Matt Kemp was 0-for-3, ending his 14-game hitting streak for the 51s (27-31).