Lincecum could provide relief as NLCS comes to a finish
The San Francisco Giants hold a 3-2 series lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Championship Series (NLCS), but they’re still not pulling any punches.
Giants’ manager, Bruce Bochy, stated that he’ll use Lincecum in relief if he needs to despite the right-hander pitching seven innings Thursday night.
“No, I wouldn't say he's finished for the series,” Bochy said. “If needed, it's one of these series that all hands are on deck and you have them all ready. He'll have a couple of days off and he'll be ready to go.”
Lincecum is the ace of the Giants’ starting rotation, but when it comes to playoff baseball, everyone is willing to chip in where they can.
Part of the tension is that the final two games of the NLCS are at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, which is known as a hitter’s ball park. In Game 1, Lincecum pitched seven innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits. He also gave up two home runs.
At AT&T Park in San Francisco he was better allowing three runs, two of them earned, on four hits over his seven innings.
Game 6 will start Saturday afternoon, giving Lincecum at least one full day of rest, and Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday night. But he’s not concerned about the lack of rest, only about how he can help the team.
“I just prepare myself for that bullpen day, and if they want to use it as an inning or whatnot I guess they'll tell me,” he said.
The World Series will start on Wednesday, which would give Lincecum the standard five days rest between starts. If he comes in for an inning or two of relief in Philadelphia it shouldn’t pose a problem for the young pitcher.
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