Bochy won't alter Lincecum's leash despite late-game struggles

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SAN FRANCISCO --In Tim Lincecums first three starts of 2012, he allowednine first inning runs. In his last three starts, he has held his opponentsscoreless in the first frame, but given up 10 runs combined in his last inning ofwork in each outing.But Giants manager Bruce Bochy doesnt intend to alter his approach of lettingLincecum work through his struggles.Unless his pitch count is up or hes really struggling outthere, Im not going change anything, Bochy said. Hes so close. Every timehe hits the mound I think hes going to have a good game.Lincecum continues to show signs of improvement early in games before hitting awall where he cant locate his pitches, either missing the strike zonecompletely or leaving hittable pitches over the heart of the plate instead ofpainting the corners.Bochy remains optimistic, however.He was very close last game. Went into the sixth throwing the ball well andmade a mistake and didnt get away with it.The mistake Bochy referred to was a hanging breaking ball that Chris Coghlan, aman dreaming of the Mendoza Line, crushed for a three-run home run in the sixthinning of the Marlins 7-6 win on May 25.Five days prior, in the Bay Bridge series, Lincecum held the As scoreless forthree innings before unraveling and surrendering four fourth-inning runs in a6-2 loss. On May 15 against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park, Lincecum looked likethe ace of old for five innings, allowing just one run. But the Rockies struckfor two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to knock Lincecum from thegame en route to a 5-4 win.While the diminutive right-hander looked as loose as ever prior to Wednesdaysgame, cleaning scuff marks off his sneakers at his locker three hours beforefirst pitch, its hard to hide from the fact that he has a 2-5 record and theGiants are 2-8 in games he starts.Regardless, Bochy has no plan to shorten Lincecums leash on the mound againstthe Diamondbacks.Hes got to put the Coghlan home run behind him and go out there and justgive us a chance.If the Giants get their old ace back, their chances against the Diamondbacksand the rest of the league will greatly improve.

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