Gio Gonzalez wanted his first career complete game and he wasn't going to let the Fresno Grizzlies even think about standing in his way. The 22-year-old left-hander tied a career high with 13 strikeouts and pitched a one-hitter Friday as the Sacramento River Cats shut down the Grizzlies, 5-1, at Chukchansi Park.

 

Gonzalez struck out the final seven batters for a dazzling end to the first nine-inning outing of his five-year career.

 

"It's a win and a win always feel good," Gonzalez said. "I just go out there and try to get the first out every inning."

 

He grabbed the Pacific Coast League lead with 113 strikeouts, 25 of which have come against Fresno.

 

"I was just hoping that the last guy would swing or something. I wanted that last out to finish the complete game," Gonzalez said. "I've never had one before and it was a pretty nice night to do it in."

 

Gonzalez (5-6) took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before surrendering a two-out solo homer to Eugenio Velez.

 

"It was something between [catcher] Landon [Powell] and I, we were grooving it together and we figured, 'Let's see if he'd swing at the first pitch," Gonzalez said. "He did. It was a changeup over the plate, I left it up and he should have hit it."

 

The blast sparked the southpaw, who retired Clay Timpner to end the inning and struck out the final seven batters en route to his second win in three starts.

 

"It was the curveball on most," Gonzalez said of finishing strikeout kick. "I figured, just keep attacking, don't give in. I didn't want to throw myself off the game plan."

 

Fresno never had a shot at a rally. Gonzalez fanned Brett Harper to end the seventh, then got the next six batters to swing at strike three. The Grizzlies have totaled two hits in 17 innings against Gonzalez this season.

 

The former first-round pick said he really had no explanation for his success against Fresno.

 

"I don't what it is," he said. "I wanted to go out there and build off my last start, just continue going at them. They're a great hitting team, but somehow it falls for us."

 

It was his most overpowering outing since he fanned 12 and held the Grizzlies to one hit over eight shutout frames on June 18.

 

"I just know I was throwing first-pitch strikes and working on my changeup, just working on all three pitches," he said. "I was just hoping to go out there and keep throwing strikes."

 

The simplified plan of attack has worked well this season for Gonzalez, who was traded by the White Sox with outfielder Ryan Sweeney and right-hander Fautino de los Santos to the Athletics for Nick Swisher on Jan. 16. Oakland promoted Gonzalez to Triple-A, where he's been fairly consistent through 17 starts.

 

"It's getting to the point where you wet your feet, you get comfortable, put on your slippers," he said. "I want to keep going. You want to be on your toes all the time."

 

Gonzalez said he wasn't aware he had a no-hitter when he lost it in the sixth. He attributed his late strikeout totals to good communication with Powell.

 

"I've been working with my pitching coach and he's been helping me get a third pitch," he said. "My strikeouts, it's been my catchers, Landon and Justin [Knoedler], these guys I train with really hard. I keep the ball down and try to pound in those first-pitch strikes."

 

Despite his recent success, the former Phillies and White Sox prospect said he hasn't worried much about the thought of a September callup.

 

"I leave that up to Oakland. I just need to go out there and continue to maintain starts like this," he said. "I'm just going to take what I did today and learn from it."

 

Sacramento staked Gonzalez to a four-run lead in the second inning when Joe Gaetti lined an RBI single and Jesus Guzman launched a three-run homer. Danny Putnam added his 10th roundtripper leading off the sixth for the first-place River Cats (52-36).

 

Major League veteran Brad Hennessey (5-5) was reached for five runs on seven hits over six innings for Fresno (38-49).

 

"It helps. You take it to the next start," Gonzalez said of his career night. "I don't know if it will give me a lot of confidence but more of a heads-up for the next game. This is a big help."

 

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This story has nothing to do with the Marlins but this kid has deep local roots and it is nice to see him finally starting to get close to cracking the big leagues!!!

 

Graduate of Pace High and also played at Hialeah High before being a first round draft pick

Gio Gonzalez was a stud in high school, maybe the best high school pitcher I've ever seen. My high school (Brito) went against Pace once and we were all praying that he wouldn't be their starter; he wasn't so we actually got the win in that game.