Giants at Mariners
At the end of the 2010 season, Tim Lincecum was on top of the world after having led the San Francisco Giants to a World Series championship. Meanwhile, Kevin Millwood was wondering if his career was over following a 4-16 season with Baltimore. How things have changed. Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young Award winner, hasn't won a game since April, while Millwood takes the mound Saturday having combined with five relievers on a no-hitter for the Seattle Mariners in his last start.
Lincecum, who turned 28 Friday, grew up just outside Seattle and starred collegiately at Washington, so the combination of a homecoming and facing Seattle's punchless offense could help him get untracked. The Mariners will be looking to snap a six-game losing streak during which they have scored only 13 runs. Seattle's lone win in the first seven games of the current nine-game homestand was the 1-0 no-hitter against the Dodgers on June 8.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, CSBA (San Francisco), ROOT (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (2-7, 6.00 ERA) vs. Mariners RH Kevin Millwood (3-5, 3.57)
Lincecum saw his winless streak stretch to eight starts after the Texas Rangers knocked him around for five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings his last time out. He hasn't gotten through six innings in five of the last eight starts and continues to struggle with his control, leading to an unsightly WHIP of 1.58. Lincecum is 1-3 with a bloated 7.98 ERA in six road starts.
Millwood was forced out of his last start with a mild groin pull after holding the Los Angeles Dodgers hitless for six innings on June 8. He had no issues throwing on the side Thursday and was pronounced good to go. Millwood lost four straight starts earlier in the season, but has rebounded to go 3-1 in his last six outings, allowing only six runs during that span.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners RF Ichiro Suzuki needs two hits to reach 2,500 in the majors.
2. Giants SS Joaquin Arias extended his hitting streak to nine games.
3. Seattle entered the weekend series batting .257 on the road versus a paltry .198 at Safeco Field.