Giants win while Lincecum fans 12; one for each '89 A in attendance

June 24, 12:45 AMSan Francisco Giants ExaminerTheo Fightmaster

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Lincecum is 3-0 with a lifetime ERA of 1.23 vs. the A's. Ben Margot, AP.

The Giants offense rarely impresses anyone, but Oakland rookie Vin Mazzaro disagrees with this widely held opinion. “This is a pretty good lineup. There’s no weakness in their lineup, your always battling, every pitch.”

Mazzaro made just his fifth start Tuesday night, and it ended in a loss to an offensive juggernaut; the visiting San Francisco Giants. Perhaps the fact that Mazzaro’s only two big league losses have come at the hand of the Giants is swaying his judgment, as they beat him, again, by a score of 4-1.

The Giants countered with Tim Lincecum, who’s far more familiar with praise than his nine wing men are, but the combination resulted in a flourishing outcome. Behind Linceucum’s complete game victory, the fourth of his career, and second in three starts (both against the A’s), the Giants robust offense mustered more than enough support.

The Giants jumped on Mazzaro early, a different approach to when these two matched up just 11 days ago. With one out in the opening frame, Pablo Sandoval doubled home Andres Torres. Sandoval then went to third on the A’s Matt Holliday’s errant throw, and scored on a Bengie Molina sac fly.

Keeping Mazzaro’s feet to the fire, in the second, Edgar Renteria doubled home Randy Winn, then scored on Matt Downs' sacrifice fly. It was Downs' first RBI in the majors.

The struggling Jason Giambi led off the A’s half with a solo homerun, his 10th, but then Lincecum settled in, and was stingy for the duration. Oakland did mount some threats, but on each occasion Lincecum was able to minimize the damage, and educed a pair of timely double plays.

With some of the 1989 A’s in attendance, including Series MVP Dave Stewart, the rematch of Mazzaro vs. Lincecum was won by the guy with the Cy Young award on his mantle.

Lincecum struck out 12, scattered seven hits and walked just a pair, while many of his 108 pitches were fastballs cruising in at about 95 mph.

"I'm sure Stew (Dave Stewart) had to appreciate that game Timmy threw," Bochy said. "He's done that a few times."

With the win Lincecum improved to 7-2, and lowered his impressive ERA to 2.57. He’s now 20 games over .500 in his young career (32-12), and has pitched into the eighth inning in five of his last six starts.

The Giants are mounting a campaign to get Pablo Sandoval, who’s third in the NL in batting, to St. Louis for the All-Star game. But, with each stellar outing by Lincecum and Cain, and it seems each is nearly stellar, Sandoval’s chances grow smaller. It’s just not very likely the Giants will occupy three All-Star roster spots.

Contrasting the respective ceremonies of the 1989 World Series participants, it would have been very difficult to know which team won that series. A little over a week after the Giants brought back everyone from their MVP, Kevin Mitchell, to their head trainer, Mark Letendre, the A’s only had 12 alums show up for their 20 year anniversary ceremony. Leaves little wonder as to why they can’t build a stadium if they can’t even throw a party.

Juan Uribe was expected to be back yesterday, but his hamstring still isn’t 100%. Bochy doesn’t expect him to be ready until Friday, saying that it’s important to keep him healthy being that he’s the only other short stop on the team.
 

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