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06/19/2008 1:42 AM ET
Cats' Gonzalez manhandles Grizzlies
Strikes out 12, allows one hit over eight innings in 4-0 victory
By Steve Conley / Special to MLB.com
Gio Gonzalez's career high for strikeouts is 13, established on April 27, 2007. (Sacramento River Cats)

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After getting off to a slow start this season, Gio Gonzalez kept working hard to find his groove. Apparently, he's found it.

Gonzalez allowed one hit and struck out a season-high 12 over eight innings Wednesday as the Sacramento River Cats blanked the Fresno Grizzlies, 4-0, at Raley Field.

Gonzalez (3-5) fanned the side in the second and took a no-hitter into the fifth with seven strikeouts under his belt. After Dayton Buller stroked a one-out double, the 22-year-old left-hander retired the final 11 batters he faced, striking out Brian Bocock on his 110th pitch to end the eighth.

Jeff Gray fanned one in a perfect ninth to close out Sacramento's third shutout of the season.

"I felt great out there tonight," Gonzalez said. "I was confident and throwing strikes. I have to give thanks to my pitching coach (Brain McArn) and my catcher (Landon Powell). We were on the same page all night and really attacking hitters."

The former first-round pick did not go more than five innings in his first six starts of the season and had lost his last three outings.

"I want to give back to my teammates who have given me 100 percent all year. I'm starting to get the feel back and I want to keep working on that every day," he said. "You have to stay focused and never be too satisfied with what you're doing."

Gonzalez went 9-7 with a 3.18 ERA in 27 starts with Double-A Birmingham last season, then was traded in January to the Oakland organization in the deal involving Nick Swisher. The effort against Fresno lowered his ERA to 5.01.

"I've been working on my changeup religiously and it's been effective for me," Gonzalez explained. "It's big to have more than one pitch that you can get guys with."

Brooks Conrad hit a three-run homer, rehabbing A's infielder Donnie Murphy delivered an RBI single and Wes Bankston went 3-for-3 with a run scored for Sacramento (43-30).

Pat Misch (2-1) was charged with four runs on nine hits while striking out eight over seven innings for the Grizzlies (34-38), who have dropped five of seven.

Steve Conley is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.