San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum has struggled so far this season. Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — Another rocky performance against the Los Angeles Dodgers by right-hander Tim Lincecum cost the San Francisco Giants.
Lincecum (1-2) lasted just four innings, giving up four runs on eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts as the Giants (8-12) lost for the second time in three games Monday night in a 8-3 defeat to the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers. Lincecum, who was scheduled to pitch Sunday against the Colorado Rockies before the weather forced a postponement, had beaten the Dodgers (12-7) almost a week earlier, earning a 6-2 romp last Tuesday in San Francisco.
This time, things didn’t go as well.
“He made mistakes early there in the count,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “They were aggressive out there. That big inning hurt him. He came back, bounced back well, had his best inning after that crooked number they put up on him, but they were aggressive on him. He left some pitches up there and they took advantage.”
It was the shortest stint this season for Lincecum. Still, Bochy didn’t appear overly concerned.
“More than anything, it’s his command,” Bochy said. “It was a little bit off. But give them a little credit, they made a little bit of an adjustment on him. That’s the only difference. It’s not so much stuff. I think his stuff has been pretty close when he’s out there.”
Lincecum is 10-8 in 28 career games (26 starts) against the Dodgers. He has failed to complete five innings against them in three of his last four outings.
