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Tim Lincecum commanding in complete game against Oakland A's
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San Francisco Giants' Tim Lincecum works against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday,
June 23, 2009, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
OAKLAND, CALIF.---After a bitter loss against the Los Angeles Angels in his last start, San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum returned with authority against the Oakland Athletics. In the second game of a three-game series between the two Bay Area teams, the Giants beat the A’s 4-1.
A’s starter Vin Mazzaro struggled early and eventually settled in, but the four runs he gave up in the first two innings proved to be too much of a deficit for his offense to overcome. The lone Oakland run came in the second inning when Jason Giambi hit a home run into the right field bleachers.
Lincecum, despite the home run, was dealing—pitching a complete game and striking out 12 hitters.
“I think it was just big when we scored early—we went up there 4-0, that was big for me,” Lincecum said. “Giambi put a good swing on that pitch and hit it out, but other than that I just tried to pitch with the lead and not let them get back in the game.”
Easier said than done, as things got interesting for the young ace when the A’s threatened with runners in scoring position—including loading the bases in the fifth inning with one out. Lincecum kept calm and was able to get out of the jams with the help of two crucial double plays.
“You try to be the same person with no outs as there is with jams, whether it’s going easier or not,” said Lincecum. “You just have to dial it in a little better when guys get on and I felt like I had to do that more as the game kind of went on in the fifth, sixth, and seventh inning.”
Giants catcher Bengie Molina witnessed Lincecum’s ability to focus and agrees that the reigning Cy Young award winner is able to maintain that ability in all nine innings.
“He doesn’t rattle that easy. He doesn’t worry about anything,” explained Molina. “All he does is pick up his leg, find his rhythm, and try to make pitches—even if it’s bases loaded or bases empty.”
The power to maintain self-control is something Giants manager Bruce Bochy knows is necessary for a successful pitcher and Lincecum possesses that strength.
“He has tremendous poise and makes pitches when he has to—that’s what good pitchers do and he did,” said Bochy. “He kept his composure out there.”
That composure remained and Lincecum pitched his second complete game of the season—both against Oakland.
“I don’t get a lot of complete games out there, so when I do it’s kind of a relief,” said Lincecum. “The game’s over so now I can just enjoy it.”
Giants fans join Lincecum as the victory gave San Francisco their fourth win over the A’s this year—giving the Giants the series win for this season.
“They’ve been tough on us, so it’s nice to take the series from them this year,” Bochy said. “In the past it hasn’t gone real well. That’s why I thought tonight’s game was huge.”
Rivalry games are huge for many, but not for the night’s winning pitcher.
“Any win that we get is big,” Lincecum said, slightly irritated by the importance put on winning against their Bay Bridge rivals.
There’s no disagreement that each win San Francisco earns is big—especially as they have a one-game lead in the NL Wild Card standings and trail those pesky Los Angeles Dodgers by 8.5 games.
Next up:
The last game between the Giants and A’s will have San Francisco’s Randy Johnson (6-5) taking on Oakland’s Gio Gonzalez (0-0) at 7:05pm on June 24.
For more on the Bay Bridge series:
Theo Fightmaster - SF Giants Examiner
Scott Sabatini - Oakland A's Examiner
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