Tim Lincecum pitches into 6th inning in Giants' 4-3 win over Rockies

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Tim Lincecum pitched into the sixth inning, Justin Maxwell went 3 for 3 with three RBIs, and the Giants rallied to beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 Tuesday in an exhibition game.

Matt Duffy singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth. Santiago Casilla pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save, and Brandon Belt added two hits.

Nolan Arenado hit a three-run homer for Colorado. Troy Tulowitzki had two hits, and DJ LeMahieu doubled home a run.

“It looked like a pop fly but he touched it pretty good,” Lincecum said. “The pitch was in but I could have gotten it in further.”

Lincecum allowed three runs and eight hits over 52/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.

Colorado left-hander Tyler Matzek gave up two runs and four hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out two.

“It was the first time all spring I felt good moving the ball around,” Matzek said.

MAXWELL’S HAMMER

Maxwell was added to the roster when outfielder Gary Brown, once one of the Giants’ top prospects, was designated for assignment.

The Giants had until Tuesday to add Maxwell to the roster or he could have requested his release.

Maxwell gets a one-year contract worth $1 million. The reserve outfielder can earn an additional $250,000 in incentives; $50,000 each for 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 plate appearances.

Maxwell is a .224 career hitter with 34 homers and 107 RBIs in 341 games.

DUFFY’S HONOR

Duffy was voted the winner of the Barney Nugget Award (nee Harry K. Jordan) by players, coaches and the training staff.

The award, named after a former Giants athletic trainer, honors a player in his first year in big league camp whose performance and dedication exemplifies the Giants’ spirit.

Previous winners include Lincecum, Belt and Russ Ortiz.

STARTING TIMES

Rockies: Except for dealing with 95-degree weather, Matzek thought everything went well.

“I would have liked to have gone deeper in the game,” he said. “I threw 77 pitches and finished to 90 in the bullpen. I was told if this were the regular season, I’d be back out there.”

Matzek is penciled in to start the Rockies’ home opener.

“I’m excited. It’s a huge opportunity,” he said. “How many people can say they started the home opener? I want to start the season with a win.”

Giants: Lincecum was officially named to the starting rotation after his outing.

“Coming in here I expected it,” he said. “I’m not going to say I needed to know because the confidence I have in myself is helping me enough. It’s nice to know though.

“During the offseason I have done enough to put myself in a position to have success. I just need to continue that.”

He’s still working on his curveball and hoping for a late break on it.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rockies: OF Corey Dickerson was scratched with back tightness.

Giants: INF Joe Panik was a late scratch due to a light ankle twist. It was also precautionary. .?.?. OF Travis Ishikawa, who had been bothered by back tightness, had an MRI that looked good. He is expected to play on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner makes his final spring start when the Giants host Cleveland today. He gets the opening-day start against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix on Monday.