Rangers shut out Giants again
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a rematch of the 2010 World Series, the Texas Rangers exacted some revenge, pummeling Tim Lincecum, who was the winning pitcher in the deciding game 5 of that World Series.
Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton each hit two-run doubles off Lincecum to take the rubber game of the series as the Rangers beat the San Francisco Giants 5-0 on a warm Sunday afternoon.
"Oh finally we got a win, we were like 0-11 here (at AT&T Park)," Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus said after the Rangers won two games in the three-game series. "The World Series was already done so we weren't really thinking about that but it's always fun to come here and play. They have a really good team and great fans and I think it brings up the (competition) level of our team too."
Alexi Ogando, Robbie Ross, Mike Adams, and Joe Nathan combined on a three-hit shutout. Until this series, the Giants had not been shut out this season, but they were blanked twice in three games by the Rangers.
"I just try to do the best I can in whatever situation they want me to come into or do whatever they want me to do, I'll do it," said Ross, who is now 6-0 in 23 appearances out of the bullpen. "I'm just getting lucky I guess, just enjoying it. I'm not putting too much
pressure on myself to get wins so I want to say I'm probably the reason they're coming."
Lincecum hasn't exactly lived up to his nickname as "The Franchise." If anything, his struggles this season have hampered the Giants from taking the lead in the National League West.
Lincecum (2-7) does not like pitching in warm weather and was tagged for five runs on nine hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings. He has lost his last five decisions and the Giants have gone only 2-11 in his 13 starts.
"I've been trying to right what I've been doing wrong," Lincecum said. "Just some poor execution on some put away pitches, leaving the ball up in the zone and not executing, that's the biggest problem. It's up to me to take control of what I can and that's one pitch. That's what we live on is executing our pitches, and when we don't we pay for it like today."
Leading 1-0 in the fourth inning, Mitch Moreland singled to left, and Craig Gentry reached on a sharp ground ball hit to third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Ogando intended to sacrifice but his bunt was perfectly placed past Lincecum and between Sandoval. Ogando ran harder to first base than was necessary and strained his right groin, forcing
him to leave the game.
"It feels pretty bad and I don't know the extent of the damage," Ogando said through an interpreter. "Tomorrow I'll get an MRI but right now I don't feel very good. The way that we need pitching right now in the state that we're in, I feel bad for that but those are the kind of things that happen in baseball."
Ogando had retired the first nine batters he had faced.
With the bases loaded, Kinsler hit a two-run double to put the Rangers ahead 3-0. Ross was brought in to replace Ogando and quickly retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning.
Lincecum would not make it out of the sixth inning. The Rangers loaded the bases for the third time in the game, and Hamilton delivered the knockout blow with a two-run double to right, sending Lincecum to the showers.
"He had some ups and downs and gave up some runs, but then settled down and made some great pitches," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's an at-bat away from a quality start. We'll keep working and that's all you can do. We'll keep saying it's close and I still believe that, but he was off at times, no getting around that."
NOTES: The Giants are 3-16 in Lincecum's starts dating back to last season. Lincecum has also tied his career-high losing streak. The last time he lost five straight decisions was Aug. 5 to Aug. 27, 2010. ... Reliever George Kontos made his Giants debut in the eighth inning. Kontos pitched in seven games for the Yankees in 2011. ...The
win by the Rangers avoided a fourth consecutive road series loss. Texas has not lost four straight road series since April and May of 2011. ... Ogando was making his first start of the season, the seventh starter used by the Rangers this season. He had 27 relief appearances prior to this start. ... Ross has an MLB leading six wins by a relief
pitcher. ... After winning this series, the Rangers are now 2-12 all-time at AT&T Park (including the 2010 World Series) since the ballpark opened in 2000.
