Colorado vs San Francisco Jimenez outduels Lincecum
Ubaldo Jiménez keeps rolling and this time not even two-time Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum could stop him.
The Dominican pitched a four-hit shutout on Monday night as the Colorado Rockies beat the San Francisco Giants 4-0, becoming the first 10-game winner in the major leagues this year. Jiménez struck out nine batters and threw 128 pitches on his way to his 10th win of the year lowering his ERA to an astonishing 0.78.
Jiménez’s start to the season is almost unprecedented, becoming only the third player since earned run average statistic became official (1912 NL, 1913 AL) to win 10 of their first 11 starts with an ERA under 1.00.
"My adrenalin was really high, everyone was expecting that game -- my parents, neighbours, everyone back in my country, and in Denver, too. ... Everyone was expecting that game and waiting to get in front of the TV,” Jiménez said.
The 26-year-old also extended his scoreless streak to 26 innings, pitched his fourth career complete game and second career shutout – his first also coming this year.
"I'm actually beginning to run out of words really to describe not only the excellence but the dominance in which this guy is pitching up to this point -- 10-1, 0.78 ERA and tomorrow is the first of June. Enough said,” Colorado Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.
"He's as good as it gets for two months. We're going to play for four more months and we'll see."
Lincecum (5-2) made his 100th start but it was one to forget as the 2009 Cy Young winner struggled with his command, giving up six hits, walking five and allowing three earned runs.
Lincecum has struggled with his mechanics of late and in his last three starts has given up 14 earned runs, ballooning his ERA from 1.76 to 3.14. His strikeout numbers have also declined and whatever issues he’s having, Lincecum is working hard to figure them out.
“I'm continuing to struggle here and it's hard to find my way out of it," Lincecum said. "I'm trying to take something out of every game and not dwell on the negative stuff too much. I went through a struggle like this my first year but this is still longer than I was hoping it would be."
But Monday night was all about Jiménez and when Jiménez’s fastball averaged nine inches of horizontal movement, six inches of vertical movement whilst throwing 97-100 MPH, Monday was only going to be about him.
"I'm just proud for what I've been able to accomplish this year," Jiménez said. "I'm feeling really confident."
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