July 12, 2009

SAN FRANCISCO - Former Spider pitcher Tim Stauffer, who was the fourth overall selection in 2003 by the San Diego Padres, made his first major league start since 2007 Saturday night and fanned seven Giants over seven innings in a 2-1 loss.

Called up from Triple-A Portland prior to the game, Stauffer (0-1) retired his first 10 batters Saturday night before Randy Winn blooped a single to left. Pablo Sandoval then hit the next pitch into the left field stands to give the Giants a 2-0 lead.

Stauffer allowed only four hits in seven innings and matched his MLB career high with seven strikeouts in his first start since Aug. 26, 2007.

"I felt like I did everything I could," said Stauffer, who missed all of 2008 after shoulder surgery. "I've felt the last 3-4 weeks as good as I've felt in the last five years. I'm able to pitch, let it go without fear of whether I might hurt my shoulder again. All this work is to get here, and hopefully stay here."

Stauffer was 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Portland. He was 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA in four starts with Portland and tossed eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits in a victory over Colorado Springs last week.

"I think Stauffer's put himself back on the radar," said Padres manager Bud Black prior to the game, who received positive reports from Portland manager Randy Ready and Grady Fuson, the Padres' vice president of player development and scouting.

"All the reports on him are good."

The Padres called up Stauffer to replace Walter Silva in the rotation, who was designated for assignment. San Diego current has three starts on the disabled list -- Jake Peavy, Chris Young and Cha Seung Beak.

In his final season at Richmond (2002), Stauffer led to the Spiders to a win shy of the College World Series, as the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year went 15-3 with a 1.54 ERA in 15 starts. He ranked first in the nation in ERA and second in wins among pitchers with at least 100.0 innings pitched and had 140 strikeouts against 34 walks.