Giants rely on Lincecum at Wrigley
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Tim Lincecum tries to keep his Wrigley Field record perfect as the San Francisco Giants conclude their four-game series against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Lincecum is coming off a rough start Tuesday against the Rockies. The right- hander allowed four hits and six runs over six innings in a no-decision. However, he's 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA in five career starts at Wrigley Field. Lincecum is 4-4 with a 3.43 ERA in 10 overall starts against the Cubs in his career.
Edwin Jackson, who is also off to a troubled start this season, counters for the Cubs. The righty has dropped both his starts, including a 7-4 defeat to Milwaukee on Monday. Jackson yielded eight hits and five runs along with five walks over six frames.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jackson sports a 2-2 record with a 4.73 ERA in five games (4 starts) when facing the Giants.
Yesterday, Marco Scutaro's RBI single in the top of the seventh proved to be the difference in San Francisco's 3-2 win.
Scutaro went 3-for-4 and also scored a run for the Giants, who bounced back from Friday's 4-3 loss. Pablo Sandoval and Gregor Blanco added an RBI apiece.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}San Francisco starter Madison Bumgarner (3-0) gave up two runs on six hits while striking out six over 6 2/3 innings. Santiago Casilla tossed two scoreless innings of relief to pick up his first save of the season.
"The pitching picked us up and won that game for us," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Dioner Navarro hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, who went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven. Alfonso Soriano went 3-for-4.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jeff Samardzija (1-2) allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings to take the loss.
"You play a team like that, and you have to get ahead in the count," Samardzija said. "They work the count and they make you throw a lot of pitches. They stay short and have a game plan."
San Francisco has won nine of the last 11 head-to-head meetings.