News
Lincecum ready to face Manny, Dodgers
San Francisco (61-52) vs. Los Angeles (69-45), 12:45 p.m. PT
By Andrew Pentis / MLB.com
08/12/09 1:19 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- In much the same way Tim Lincecum's three duels with Albert Pujols were analyzed when the Giants were in St. Louis earlier this season, so too will be the right-hander's bouts against a certain Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Wednesday at AT&T Park. "Your pulse gets going, but it makes you more intent on making better pitches," Lincecum said of pitching to Manny Ramirez. "Those are the guys you have to focus on, because the mistakes will hurt you. ... You try to be as level-headed as you can." Manager Bruce Bochy was talking about another interesting head-to-head matchup Monday. The skipper said he had reminisced with Giants legend Willie Mays about facing Dodgers great Don Drysdale in a different era of the game -- when knocking hitters off the plate was a more oft-used tactic. Mays -- who in 1958 moved with the Giants from New York to San Francisco just as Drysdale came with the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles -- would, from time to time anyway, get knocked down with a high and hard fastball from the famed right-hander. "They throw at me," Mays joked with Bochy, "but they'll never hit me in the head." While Lincecum would prefer leaving the fisticuffs to the fans in the stands in the finale of the teams' series Wednesday, he'll be seeking outs from Ramirez and the remainder of Los Angeles' lineup. The Dodgers' cleanup hitter is 1-for-4 with a base-on-balls for his career against Lincecum. The results of the Lincecum-Ramirez battle could very well extrapolate to determine which city's fans can claim victory in the series finale. The foes won't reunite until a three-game set starting Sept. 18 at Chavez Ravine. After the Giants' loss Tuesday, they stood 7 1/2 games back of the Dodgers in the division race. "People realize how close it is," Lincecum said. "We can inch closer, coming down to the last month. We need to do what we can now and just try and stay in the hunt." Pitching matchupSF: RHP Tim Lincecum (12-3, 2.20 ERA)
Lincecum received a no-decision in his last outing, though he left with a 4-3 lead after seven innings against Cincinnati. Only two of the runs were earned off Lincecum, who struck out seven to increase his Major League-leading total to 198. As good as Lincecum has been, he owns an ordinary 2-2 record with a 3.05 ERA in seven daytime starts. But he's also 7-1 at home and 3-0 against the Dodgers in his career. LAD: RHP Jeff Weaver (5-4, 3.90 ERA)
Weaver gets the spot start as Chad Billingsley's replacement. Weaver is 2-1 with a 3.47 ERA in five starts for the Dodgers this year, the most recent July 11 in a 6-3 loss at Milwaukee, when he allowed four runs (two earned) in 3 1/3 innings. Weaver last pitched three hitless innings of relief Sunday. He's 3-5 with a 5.00 ERA in 14 career starts against the Giants and 3-3 at AT&T Park. Tidbits
Lincecum and Matt Cain both purchased 20 of their 2009 All-Star jerseys to share with their teammates. ... Aaron Rowand used the words "stiff" and "sore" to describe his hampered left hamstring, though the center fielder was in the lineup and batting sixth Tuesday. ... Pablo Sandoval turned 23 years old Tuesday. ... In his first start since being demoted to Triple-A Fresno, Ryan Sadowski allowed three runs on four hits over four innings Monday. He received a no-decision. ... Randy Winn hasn't homered since April 25, a span of 357 at-bats. Tickets
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• Thursday: Off-day
• Friday: Giants (Barry Zito, 8-10, 4.40) at Mets (Bobby Parnell, 2-4, 3.94), 4:10 p.m. PT
• Saturday: Giants (Matt Cain, 12-4, 2.44) at Mets (Johan Santana, 13-8, 3.00), 1:10 p.m. PT
Andrew Pentis is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
