Ryan Ludwick had a great line after Monday night’s 10-0 loss to San Francisco when he said of Tim Lincecum, "I could be wrong, but I think he won the Cy Young last year." The Giants starting pitcher certainly pitched like it as he went the distance allowing just two hits while striking out eight.
A single from Rick Ankiel in the fifth and a double by Albert Pujols in the seventh was all the Cardinals could muster against Lincecum who is now 8-2 with a 2.37 ERA.
The Giants got to Brad Thompson in the first inning when Yadi’s brother Bengie picked up an RBI single and in the fourth, Travis Ishikawa hit a three run homer to put San Fran up 4-0.
That would be plenty of support for Lincecum, but the Giants piled on recently called up Clayton Mortensen who gives Tony LaRussa 13 pitchers after the Cardinals placed Khalil Greene on the DL again for anxiety disorder.
Juan Uribe doubled to start the 7 th off Mortensen and moved to third on a Lincecum bunt. Aaron Rowand was hit by a pitch and a throwing error by Skip Schumaker scored a run. Molina singled in another run and later in the inning after a walk to load the bases, Mortensen gave up a bases clearing double to former Cardinals Edgar Renteria. A solo homer in the 8 th rounded out the scoring.
Listen to Tony LaRussa, Brad Thompson and Ryan Ludwick comment on Lincecum.
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Lincecum, Giants shut down Cardinals
Hochevar and homers beat Twins
Luke Hochevar said the key to Monday night’s 4-2 win over the Twins was that even though he couldn’t locate his fastball early, he was able to settle down and keep the leadoff hitters from getting on later in the game which took pressure off his defense.
Hochevar allowed just two hits over seven scoreless innings to pick up his third win of the year. In the first four innings, Hochevar walked the leadoff hitter twice and gave up a double to start the fourth, but the Twins could never take advantage.
With a 1-0 lead in the sixth, Alberto Callaspo and Miguel Olivo hit back to back homers off Twins starter Nick Blackburn who up to that point allowed just an unearned run.
The Twins came back with two runs in the eighth off John Bale, but Joakim Soria picked up his 10 th save by striking out the side.
Listen to the postgame comments: Luke Hochevar says the key was keeping leadoff hitters off base from middle innings on and Mike Jacobs says the Royals needed Hochevar to start the homestand off right and that losing pitcher Nick Blackburn was tough, too. Ron Gardenhire says the Twins defense was sub-par and Nick Blackburn says back-to-back HRs in the 6th cost him the game, while Twins DH Jason Kubel says the Twins let Hochevar off the hook early
