Lincecum struggles through another start
March 11, 2010
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP)—Tim Lincecum’s(notes) 19-pitch first inning was an adventure.
A leadoff double to Ichiro Suzuki(notes) followed by a walk. A flyout, then astrikeout on a double steal. And a two-run single by—surprise—old SanFrancisco teammate Ryan Garko(notes). Eric Byrnes(notes) eventually grounded out.
Lincecum, the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, doesn’t quite looklike himself yet at spring training and struggled through 2 2-3 innings in theGiants’ sloppy 6-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.
He isn’t one bit worried.
The hard-throwing righty got Ryan Langerhans(notes) on a swinging strikeout tostart his 17-pitch second on a change-up that bounced in front of the plate.Lincecum escaped the inning unscathed.
He is finding his balance, his rhythm—acknowledging perhaps that he’s eventhinking about a few too many things at once when it comes to mastering hismechanics. He’s not concerned with results this early.
“Stuff wise I felt like everything was good,” Lincecum said. “I thinkright now everything is just location. I just try to take something positivefrom each outing. My curveball was breaking really well, the slider was doingwell. The change-up when it was down was good, same with the fastball. The onlytime I really got hurt was Ichiro’s hit. … The key for me is rhythm. Mymechanics kind of follow that.”
The 25-year-old right-hander had his second subpar outing in as manyappearances against the team he once hoped to play for as a kid growing up inSeattle.
“That’s another thing that’s kind of getting old, too,” he said of beingpassed over by his hometown team.
Lincecum was tagged for six hits, struck out four and walked two in his59-pitch day. He lowered his spring ERA by nearly half, from 18.00 to 9.82.
After Ichiro doubled to start the game, Lincecum retired him in fancyfashion the next time up. The pitcher fielded a one-hop grounder behind his backand threw to first.
The Giants’ defense didn’t do much to help Lincecum in this one, allowing apair of unearned runs in the third—the second of which chased Lincecum.
Both teams sent out nearly regular lineups, though the Giants agreed to usea designated hitter.
Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu is playing both Suzuki and new No. 2 hitterChone Figgins(notes) for four straight days before getting three off when the team isin Tucson on Sunday and Monday followed by Tuesday’s off day.
They pulled off a double steal in the first inning—the first stolen basefor both players this spring.
Figgins committed his first error of the spring when the second basemanfielded Aubrey Huff’s(notes) bouncing grounder to start the second but then dropped theball.
Seattle starter Ian Snell(notes) was pleased with his fastball location and tempoin his second outing. The right-hander allowed one hit in three innings with awalk.
“I was just attacking the hitters, attacking the zone,” he said. “I’mgetting into a little groove, working hard.”
NOTES: Seattle RHP reliever David Aardsma(notes), who strained his right groinMarch 4, is scheduled to pitch second at home against Kansas City on Friday inhis first action since the injury. Manager Don Wakamatsu was impressed withAardsma’s recent bullpen session. … Giants RHP reliever Joe Martinez(notes) isnursing tendinitis in the back of his throwing elbow and will take a few days torest and let it calm down. He underwent an MRI exam and didn’t pitch Wednesdaywhen he had been scheduled. “It’s not sore,” he said. “It’s something I kindof need to take care of now so it’s not a problem later.” … San Francisco 1BTravis Ishikawa(notes), who tore two ligaments in his left toe before the start ofspring training when he slipped down the stairs in his home, began runningstraight away again Wednesday but is still yet to face live pitching. He hopesto get into some minor league games next week. … The Giants fell to 5-1 atScottsdale Stadium, where the Mariners have won four of their last fiveexhibition contests.
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