SAN FRANCISCO — Walking the concourse, a man clothed in a Giants jacket and team jersey interrupted a bite of his garlic chicken sandwich for an important announcement.
“CYYYY! Youuungg!” he hollered at San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum on the mound below.
Not so fast. Not so much.
With a chance to persuade voters, Lincecum stormed off the mound Tuesday as if he was heading up court steps to pay a parking ticket. In a display of offense seen too infrequently this season, the Rockies bludgeoned Lincecum in a 9-4 victory that came with a parting gift.
In possibly killing Lincecum’s Cy Young bid – Arizona’s Brandon Webb is now the slight favorite – Ubaldo Jimenez kept alive his hopes for a winning record. He improved to 12-12 with one assignment remaining in Sunday’s season finale, punching the clock for six sleeves-rolled-up innings.
Lincecum is no longer a pitcher, he’s an event. Part Juan Marichal, part Mark Fidrych, the 5-feet-10, 170-pound right-hander, who was confused as a clubhouse kid earlier this season in Washington, represents the Giants’ future. The billing would only gain credibility with the National League’s top pitching trophy on his mantel.
His candidacy was much stronger before the Rockies’ smear campaign. Lincecum lasted just 4 1/3 innings, tagged for six runs on 102 pitches. Lincecum didn’t appear himself from the first pitch, struggling to find his arm slot and unable to command his filthy curveball.
Seth Smith, getting another start in center field as the Rockies weigh their options against keeping Willy Taveras next season, blasted a solo home run in the third.
“I faced Lincecum in the minor leagues and I know I didn’t get a hit and struck out at least once,” Smith said. “I was just hoping to get a hit. I don’t go up looking to hit home runs, those are usually mistakes.”
Ian Stewart’s RBI double ultimately shoved Lincecum to the dugout. He retreated quickly to the clubhouse, then returned minutes later, sitting beside manager Bruce Bochy. Lincecum looked like he had been told he was going to boarding school in Hungary. The loss was ugly, leaving Lincecum to rely on the Rockies to pound Webb in Phoenix this weekend.
Lincecum ranks second in ERA – his 2.66 mark, a tick behind the Mets’ Johan Santana after a Rich Aurilia error on a Troy Tulowitzki groundball was changed to a two-run hit after the game. The Giants will appeal the ruling, a team spokesman said late Tuesday night. Lincecum leads the league in strikeouts – his 252 broke Jason Schmidt’s single-season franchise record.
But Lincecum no longer leads Webb. Even though the bullpen has blown five leads for Lincecum, compared to only one for Webb, the lack of victories will be hard to overcome. Webb has 22, five more than the little Giant.
“I think you have to look at the season. You don’t look at one start,” Bochy said. “You have to look at what he accomplished this year.”
Jimenez labored like Lincecum, requiring 45 pitches to navigate the first two innings. He settled down, finishing with four strikeouts.
“He showed some teeth when he had to,” said manager Clint Hurdle.
Jimenez’s muscle – see 97 mph fastball – makes scouts drool. He is as good a reason as any why the Rockies believe they will rebound next season.
“I struggled so much early I never thought I would get 12 wins,” admitted Jimenez, who said his body feels good despite working a career-high 191 2/3 innings. “It would be great to finish with a winning record.”
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com
TODAY: Rockies at San Francisco, 8:15 p.m., FSN
Livan Hernandez (12-11, 6.03 ERA) wasn’t looking for approval after his five-inning scoreless outing last week, noting that he believes he will pitch well in each game. He instructed reporters to ask the manager if he was still in the rotation. Hernandez will make his last start of the season, and likely as a Rockie, tonight against a former team of his. The Giants’ Jonathan Sanchez (9-11, 4.71) is a sneaky lefty with a huge upside. He has walked 14 in four starts against the Rockies this season, making patience critical for Colorado.
Troy E. Renck, The Denver Post
Thursday:
Rockies’ Jorge De La Rosa (9-8, 5.20 ERA) vs. Giants’ Barry Zito (10-16, 5.28), 8:15 p.m., FSN
Friday:
Rockies’ Jason Hirsh (0-0, 10.38) vs. Diamondbacks’ Dan Haren (16-8, 3.27), 7:40 p.m., FSN
Saturday:
Rockies’ Greg Reynolds (2-8, 8.13) vs. Diamondbacks’ B. Webb (22-7, 3.24), 6:10 p.m., KTVD-20
Sunday:
Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez (12-12, 4.13) vs. Diamondbacks’ Randy John- son (10-10, 4.11), 2:10 p.m., FSN
