White Sox designate Scott Downs for assignment; Recall Eric Surkamp from class AAA Charlotte

Prior to tonight's game at Toronto, the Chicago White Sox designated left-handed pitcher Scott Downs for assignment and recalled left-hander Eric Surkamp from Class AAA Charlotte.

            Surkamp, 26, has gone 3-4 with a 4.54 ERA (37 ER/73.1 IP) and 84 strikeouts in 14 games (11 starts) with Charlotte this season, his first in the White Sox organization after being claimed off waivers from San Francisco on December 23, 2013.

            The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Surkamp leads the International League in strikeouts and has averaged 11.6 per 9.0 IP over his last four starts (31 SO/24.0 IP), including a season-high 12 on May 30 at Toledo.

He was named International League Pitcher of the Week for June 16-22 after going 1-0 with a 0.64 ERA (1 ER/14.0 IP) and 15 strikeouts in two starts.

  Surkamp is 2-3 with a 7.36 ERA (24 ER/29.1 IP) in seven starts over two major-league seasons with the Giants (2011, '13).  

            Downs, 38, went 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA (16 ER/23.2 IP), 15 walks and 22 strikeouts in 38 games this season, his first with the Sox after agreeing to terms on a one-year contract with a club option for 2015 on January 2, 2014.