Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Giants can't touch Scherzer

June 13, 2007
Max Scherzer struck out 13 over seven perfect innings for his first Minor League win as Visalia coasted to a 10-4 triumph over San Jose on Tuesday.

Making his second start since signing with Arizona on May 31, the former first-round draft pick retired all 21 batters he faced.

"My confidence was really high tonight and I just wanted to build off the momentum from my last time out," he said. "It feels great to get into a zone, and that's what happened tonight."

Scherzer (1-0) was pulled after seven innings and 88 pitched but was confident he could have gone the distance.

"I knew I was on the pitch count, but I think I would have gotten the perfect game if I had stayed in," he said. "As a pitcher, you have to have confidence no matter what the situation is. I was really competing out there, but certain things are out of my control. I just wanted to do the best job I could."

In two starts in the hitter-friendly California League, the 22-year-old right-hander has allowed one run on two hits with 21 strikeouts and no walks over 12 innings.

In 2005, as a sophomore at the University of Missouri, Scherzer struck out 14 over seven innings in a combined no-hitter against Texas Tech.

Rusty Ryal went 4-for-5 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored. He ripped an RBI single in the first, smacked a two-run homer, his seventh, in the fifth, and doubled and scored in the eighth before singling and scoring again in the ninth.

Jereme Milons blasted a three-run homer and Cyle Hankerd added three hits for the Oaks (31-24.

Giants starter Gregorio Martinez (4-5) allowed four runs -- one earned -- on eight hits and two walks, fanning five over five innings.

Pablo Sandoval hit a two-run homer, his sixth, for San Jose (35-30). --Steve Conley/MLB.com