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Lincecum struggles in 2nd meeting with Athletics

Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Freak wasn't so scary the second time around.

Los Angeles Angels starter Tim Lincecum gave up one run and four hits over six innings in his first start of the season against the Oakland Athletics, but they weren't fooled when they saw him again Thursday.

"(Lincecum) probably hung some balls today," Athletics manager Bob Melvin told reporters. "We're a little bit more aware of what he was going to try to do today. For the most part, he was really successful with it last time. If it ain't broke don't fix it, and it was our turn to make some adjustments. I think we did that early in the game."

Lincecum was tagged for four runs and seven hits and chased after just three innings of work. After throwing 98 pitches Saturday, he threw 83 this time around.

Date Opp. IP H ER BB SO Pitches
June 18 Angels 6 4 1 2 2 98
June 24 Angels 3 7 4 2 2 84

The 32-year-old blamed his start on poor mechanics, which he felt were also an issue in his first start of the season.

"That was a big issue tonight," Lincecum explained. "My shoulders were going horizontally toward home plate, left and right, with not a lot of depth on my pitches. I also got one-dimensional with my pitches, basically just throwing fastball and changeup."

Lincecum, who signed a one-year, $2.5-million pro-rated deal with the Angels on May 20, expected better results.

"I just expect myself to be a little bit better of a competitor than that and go a little bit deeper in the game and give my team a better chance to win," he said.

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