With just 30 games remaining in the 2011 MLB regular season, the San Francisco Giants find themselves three games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West.
The Giants are playing the Houston Astros at AT&T Park tonight. The Astros are the worst team in Major League Baseball with a 43-89 record. This game also marks the MLB debut of Eric Surkamp, a 24-year old lefthander out of North Carolina State.
At 6'5", Surkamp is an imposing figure on the mound. Surkamp was 10-4 with a 2.02 ERA for Double-A Richmond. He has been named the top pitching prospect in the organization. Per The Sacramento Bee:
"With (Jonathan Sanchez) being down and (Dan) Runzler struggling, he's our best option at this point with the way he's been throwing the ball," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's having a nice year down there in Double-A. We've done this before with young players when we've needed help. He's a guy who knows what he's doing on the mound, has good poise and command of his pitches."
Here is the complete batting order for the Giants. First pitch is at 6:05 PM Pacific time.
Mike Fontenot, SS
Jeff Keppinger, 2B
Carlos Beltran, RF
Pablo Sandoval, 3B
Brandon Belt, LF
Aubrey Huff, 1B
Cody Ross, CF
Chris Stewart, C
Eric Surkamp, SP