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Surkamp makes debut for Giants versus Astros

Aug 27, 2011 - 3:14 PM (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants are in the midst of a division race and will throw starting pitcher Eric Surkamp into the mix when they continue a four-game series versus the Houston Astros tonight at AT&T Park.

Surkamp was summoned from Double-A Richmond and went 10-4 with a 2.02 earned run average in 23 games, 22 of which were starts, for the Flying Squirrels. The lefty has an average fastball that tops out around 89 mph, but his curveball is as nasty as his counterpart in Houston right-hander Brett Myers.

With Jonathan Sanchez still on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle, Surkamp beat out left-hander Dan Runzler for the starting nod. Surkamp departs the Eastern League as the leader in ERA, strikeouts (165) and WHIP (1.08). He is the second Flying Squirrel in franchise history to be promoted directly from Richmond to the Major Leagues. Darren Ford was recalled by the Giants September 1, 2010, appearing in seven games.

The Giants have alternated wins and losses over their last six games and evened this series with Friday's 2-1 victory. Madison Bumgarner allowed one run over 6 1/3 innings for the win, Ramon Ramirez pitched the next 1 2/3 scoreless innings and Santiago Casilla struck out two in the ninth for his second save.

"[Bumgarner] gave us a quality start. ... We only scored two runs, so he gave us exactly what we needed," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.

Jeff Keppinger drove in two runs and Carlos Beltran chipped in two hits for the Giants, who remained three games behind Arizona for the top spot in the National League West standings. San Francisco rebounded from Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Astros and will also host the Cubs and Diamondbacks on this 12- game homestand. It is 2-2 so far on the residency after splitting a two-game set with San Diego.

Houston lost for the fifth time in six tries on Friday and saw starter J.A. Happ fall to 4-15 after he gave up two runs -- one earned -- and four hits in six innings. He struck out two and walked four batters.

"I got the loss, but I'm trying to be done with negatives," Happ said on the team's website. "I think there's a lot of positives to take out of this game. If I throw the ball like that, more often than not, I'm going to come up with a win. It's just a tough one."

Taking the ball for the 'Stros tonight will be Myers, who is 0-7 with a 5.40 earned run average in his last 11 starts, with Houston going 2-9 over that stretch. Myers' previous win came on June 17 against the Los Angeles Dodgers and he was last in action on Monday in a 9-5 loss at Colorado. He gave up seven runs and nine hits in five innings of work.

Myers, a right-hander, is just 2-6 in 15 starts away from Minute Maid Park this season and 2-4 with a 5.55 ERA in 10 career meetings (8 starts) with San Francisco.

Houston is 1-4 on a seven-game road trip and took a three-game series from the Giants earlier in the year. The Astros have won five of the past seven meetings with San Francisco.