"Nobody knows who'll win the job as the Giants' fifth starter next year or where Barry Zito or Jonathan Sanchez fit - if at all - but Eric Surkamp is doing enough for now to enter spring training as a legitimate candidate.

The Giants are 3-0 in Surkamp's first three starts in the majors, including Monday night's 8-3 victory over the Padres. The rookie left-hander pitched into the sixth inning and exited with a 4-1 lead, which quickly became 4-3 when reliever Steve Edlefsen failed to finish the inning.

Surkamp, 24, dominated hitters in the Double-A Eastern League and has pitched well enough to handle his share of big-leaguers, posting a 3.24 ERA in 16 2/3 innings. On Monday, he benefited from the Giants' sudden ability to produce runs at home - they scored at least eight runs in back-to-back home games for the first time since Games 1 and 2 of the World Series."