TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Josh Hamilton returned for Los Angeles, and Kole Calhoun’s big swing lifted the Angels to the spring win.
Not a bad day at all for Mike Scioscia’s club.
Hamilton had an infield single in his first spring game in the Angels’ 8-7 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Monday. Calhoun belted a winning two-run homer off Jean Machi with one out in the ninth.
Hamilton went 1 for 3 for the split squad. The five-time All-Star and 2010 AL MVP has been hampered by a sprained left calf muscle.
Hamilton started a three-run fourth inning against Tim Lincecum with a base hit off first baseman Mark Minicozzi’s glove. The designated hitter also bounced into a force play in the first and lined to right in the fifth.
Hamilton told reporters by phone that he felt good after his first outing.
“I got on base and I tried to steal and did the things I’m supposed to be doing.” he said.
Hamilton took off from first on a 3-2 pitch to David Freese in the fourth, but Freese was hit by the pitch.
Hamilton struggled last season, hitting .250 with 21 homers and 79 RBI after signing a five-year, $125 million contract. He hit .285 with 43 homers and 128 RBIs in 2012 in his final season with Texas.
Scioscia said the slugger looked comfortable.
“He was running well and that’s great to see,” Scioscia said. “He’s got to get out and play the outfield. We’ll see how it goes, then. There are still some hurdles. We’re not going to work too far ahead right now.”
Hamilton said he would not play in Tuesday’s game at the Chicago Cubs.
Lincecum, a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, allowed seven hits and five runs in 5 1-3 innings in his fourth start.
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Giants: Manager Bruce Bochy said Lincecum hurt himself by not stepping on first for what might have been a 3-6-1 double play on Raul Ibanez’s bouncer to first prior to Howie Kendrick’s RBI single in the fourth.
“He got 80 pitches in,” Bochy said. “We got him where we want him to be.”
Angels slugger Raul Ibanez said Lincecum looked like the Lincecum of old.
“He has that great changeup and has great deception,” he said. “He’s always tough even if he throws 90 or 92 or whatever.”
Lincecum went 10-14 with a 4.37 ERA in 32 starts last season.
Angels: Hector Santiago allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings. He gave up four hits, struck out five and walked three.
Santiago went 4-9 with a 3.56 ERA with the Chicago White Sox in 2013. He was acquired in an offseason trade.
“Right now I feel great,” Santiago said. “I’m in the zone all the time.”
Santiago is believed to be in a three-way race for two open spots in the back end of the rotation with Tyler Skaggs and Joe Blanton.
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