‘Bad luck’ bedevils Lincecum in 5-0 loss

AT&T PARK — When it’s Tim Lincecum’s turn in the rotation, you’ve got to wonder: Will it be good Timmy or bad Timmy who shows up?

Friday night, it was mostly good Timmy. But when Lincecum made mistakes, the Rockies didn’t miss them.

Michael Cuddyer homered, doubled, and had three RBIs. Carlos Gonzalez also homered and Tyler Chatwood pitched six scoreless innings as the Rockies shut out the Giants 5-0.

In the loss, Lincecum (3-4) pitched seven innings allowing four runs on seven hits, walked two, striking out eight.

Manager Bruce Bochy noted it was a good outing:

Giants Manager Bruce Bochy

Video: CSN Bay Area

“Overall, I’d say he was ok. Was it great? It’s hard to say that when you give up four (runs) but there was some bad luck mixed into that. I thought it was an improvement of an outing for him and he had good stuff tonight but he did make a couple of mistakes.”

The Rockies scored twice in the first inning. Nolan Arenando singled to left before Carlos Gonzalez reached on an infield single to second. Marco Scutaro ranged to his right and tried to get Arenando at second with a backhand scoop toss to second but the throw didn’t have much behind it and was late. With runners on first and second, Michael Cuddyer hit a two-run double to right.

Lincecum has pitched at least six innings six times. However, only three of his ten outings this season are quality starts. Lincecum was glad to take some of the pressure off the overworked bullpen:

Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum

Video: CSN Bay Area

“That’s a positive, silver lining. But at the same time the first inning happened and that slider to Cuddyer. One run might have hurt us but four really made it hard.”

Cuddyer was activated off the disabled list prior to this game and paid immediate dividends with his contributions.

The veteran outfielder was out with an inflamed cervical disc since May 8 and Rockies manager Walt Weiss was glad to have him back in the lineup:

“Cuddy picked up where he left off. He’s a tough out and he’s a big lift for us, another guy in the middle of that lineup that drives in runs really well.”

Lincecum ran into more bad luck in the fourth. He retired six in a row when Cuddyer struck out but reached first base because the strikeout was on a wild pitch, out of reach for Buster Posey. Todd Helton singled to left before D.J. LeMahieu’s single to right brought in Cuddyer for a 3-0 Colorado lead.

In the top of the eighth, Gonzalez homered off the shingled right field roof above the arcade in right field off reliever Sandy Rosario, called up when Santiago Casilla went on the 15-day DL. Casilla may need surgery for his injured right knee.

Notes

The Rockies ended their nine-game losing streak at AT&T Park. Their last win here was Aug. 10, 2012 which was also the last time the Giants were shut out at home. Chatwood was also the winning pitcher in that game. … Posey has hit safely in 14 of his last 15 games.