May 3, 2002
Stanford, Calif. - Jeremy Guthrie tossed a complete game six-hitter and struck out a season-high 10 batters to lead No. 9 Stanford (30-13, 7-6 Pac-10) to an 8-4 victory over California (26-24, 8-11 Pac-10) in the opener of a three-game Pac-10 series at Sunken Diamond on Friday. Guthrie (7-1) gave up only one hit after the fourth inning, a bunt single by David Horwitz with one out in the top of the ninth.
"I was able to get stronger as the game went on tonight and that was a real positive for me," said Guthrie, who also threw a complete game in his previous start at Oregon State last Fridayand won for the 12th time in his last 13 decisions.
"This was a good game for us to bounce back," added Stanford head coach Mark Marquess about his Cardinal team that had lost four of its last six Pac-10 contests.
Sam Fuld (3-4, HR, SB, 3 RBI) and Scott Dragicevich (3-4, 2 2B) had three hits each for the Cardinal, while Carlos Quentin (2-4, HR, 3 RBI, SB) homered and drove in three runs to lead the Cardinal offense. Fuld continued a hot stretch in which he has 10 multiple-hit games in his last 11 contests as he raised his season batting average to a team-high .372. Fuld is 26-for-45 (.578) over the stretch and has moved into the top spot on Stanford's career batting average list with an updated lifetime mark of .364.
"I'm just getting into a groove and picking up confidence," said Fuld.
Horowitz (3-4, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI) had half of California's six hits, while David Nicholson (2-2, SB) added a pair of hits.
California reliever Matt Payne (3-2) suffered the loss, giving up three runs and five hits in 2.1 innings as the second of four California pitchers.
The game was tied 4-4 before Stanford scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning to take the lead for good. Fuld walked to lead off the inning, stole second base and scored on an RBI double by Jason Cooper. Cooper moved to third on a balk by Payne and scored on an RBI single by Quentin.
Stanford added insurance runs in the sixth and the eighth innings. Dragicevich led off the inning with a single, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Arik VanZandt and a single by Chris O'Riordan before scoring on an RBI single by Fuld.
California scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning when Carson White drew a two-out walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Conor Jackson.
The Cardinal tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning on a solo homer by Fuld, his fourth of the season.
California regained a 2-1 lead in the top of the second when Nicholson singled with one out and scored on an RBI double by Horwitz.
Stanford picked up three runs in the bottom of the third as Fuld singled with one out and scored on an RBI double by Garko to tie the score at 2-2 before a two-run homer by Quentin put the Cardinal ahead 4-2.
California came back to tie the score at 4-4 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning on a two-RBI triple by Horwitz. The rally started when John Baker reached on an error by VanZandt at first base and continued with a single by Nicholson prior to the triple by Horwitz.
Guthrie then faced 17 consecutive batters without giving up another hit until the bunt single by Horwitz in the top of the ninth.
Stanford won for the 15th time this season after trailing at one point in the game and improved to 17-3 at Sunken Diamond this season. Stanford also picked up its eighth straight 30-win season and has now won 30 or more games in 24 of the 26 seasons under Marquess.
Stanford stranded eight runners, while the Golden Bears left five on base.
Stanford has now defeated California in three-of-four meetings this season. The Cardinal gained one-half game on idle first place USC (11-4 Pac-10) in the conference standings and is now 3.0 games behind the Trojans. Stanford remained in a fourth place tie with Oregon State (7-6 Pac-10) in the conference race as the Beavers were an 18-1 winner at Washington State on Friday. Washington (8-5 Pac-10) was an 8-1 loser to UCLA on Friday, falling into a second place tie in the conference standings with idle Arizona State (9-6 Pac-10). California fell into seventh place with the loss.
Stanford and California continue their three-game series on Saturday and Sunday with start times scheduled both days for 1:00 p.m., PT.