Lincecum Give Up 5 Runs, Giants Rally To Beat Rockies
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (CBS / AP) -- Jamie Moyer knows making the Colorado Rockies is going to be a tough task after having Tommy John surgery.
At 49, he's up to the challenge.
Making his first appearance in a year and a half, Moyer pitched two scoreless innings and the Rockies tagged Tim Lincecum for five runs before the San Francisco Giants rallied for an 8-6 victory Wednesday.
"I was a little anxious entering the game," said Moyer. "It's been 18 months since I pitched in game. I wasn't nervous since I entered from the bullpen in the fourth.
"I have something to prove to this team," he added.
Moyer last pitched July 20, 2010, when he was with Philadelphia.
In his two innings of work, Moyer held the Giants to a single and induced five groundouts and had a strikeout. His fastest pitch was an 82 mph fastball to Brandon Belt in the fourth inning.
If Moyer makes the team, he would become the fifth pitcher to play in the majors for 25 years or more. Nolan Ryan holds the record having pitched for 27.
Moyer threw just 22 pitches in his outing. "I have a lot of work ahead of me," Moyer said. "I can't sit and dwell on this because one outing isn't going to create where I'm going to be.
"Today was all about trying to be effective and pitch around the strike zone," he said.
The Rockies pounced on Lincecum in the first two innings, scoring five runs as the former two-time Cy Young Award winner struggled with his command.
The Giants ace gave up five runs on seven hits to the 13 batters he faced. In the first inning, he threw 29 pitches and yielded a lead-off homer to Charlie Blackmon and two-run triple to Michael Cuddyer.
His struggles continued in the second as he gave up two-run single to Carlos Gonzalez.
"I felt fine, said Lincecum. "I felt like my times to the plate were good. Both innings were kind of rough, obviously.
"Just one of those things where you've got to eliminate the fact that you're trying to get super competitive out there and trying to get outs and really focus on what you're trying to work on," Lincecum said. "I wanted to just keep throwing my fastball and hopefully pound the zone with that. At times I thought I got changeup-happy."
Jeremy Guthrie, making his first appearance of the spring, gave up two runs on five hits in three innings.
"I was able to throw my breaking ball for strikes," Guthrie said. "However, I played into their hand when I threw fastballs."
Guthrie, who lost 17 games last season with Orioles is pitching in the NL for the first time.
"So far, I've been able to fit right in," Guthrie said. "It's a pretty easy group to fit into.
Trailing 6-2 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Giants rallied for six runs in the next two innings.
Tommy Joseph, a catcher, had two singles while Gregor Blanco, an outfielder had a single and double.
New Giant Melky Cabrera continued his torrid hitting raising his spring average to .571 (8 for 14) by going 3 for 3. The outfielder had two homers on Tuesday against the Dodgers.
NOTES: An Angels scout taking notes during the Giants morning infield practice was ejected from Scottsdale Stadium at the request of Giants manager Bruce Bochy, according to CSNBayArea.com. Scout Jeff Schugel was removed from the stadium about 10:15 a.m. while the Giants were going through routine infield drills. Earlier this spring, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson had scouts removed while they were watching drills at Arizona's camp. ... On a back field, after Giants closer RHP Brian Wilson threw live BP to C Buster Posey and 2B Freddy Sanchez declared "that he was ready" to appear in a spring game. ... Dr. James Andrews told LHP Dan Runzler that he just aggravated his latissimus dorsi muscle—not re-torn it—and won't need surgery. Runzler tore the muscle during last season's final game. He should return in four to six weeks. ... Giants C Hector Sanchez missed practice with a right hamstring injury sustained during Tuesday's game.
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