Pitching cararies UW to series win

[img1]The Washington baseball team (30-16 overall, 8-7 Pac-10) won two of three games this weekend against Arizona (20-22, 6-9) on the strength of starting pitching -- especially from juniors Tim Lincecum and Kyle Parker.

Lincecum started Friday, taking the center ring of a media circus and sold-out crowd. KOMO Sports, KJR AM, The Seattle Times, 1,646 fans and a large contingent of scouts saw Lincecum (10-2) pitch eight innings and strike out 11 in a 7-5 Husky victory. The win, his 29th as a Dawg, gave him the most of any pitcher in UW history.

Friday's offense was provided mostly by sophomore third baseman Matt Stevens and freshman center fielder Brett Kaluza. Stevens went 2-4 with a pair of runs and RBIs. He led off the seventh inning with his 13th home run, good for second in the Pac-10. Kaluza went 3-3, scored twice and drove in one.

Kaluza also came through during Washington's 4-3 win Sunday. With the Huskies down 3-2 in the eighth inning and two runners on, Kaluza came to the plate.

"I was just trying to hit the ball hard up the middle," Kaluza said. "The infield was in, so I wanted to get it past them."

He did just that, driving in pinch runner Nick Burnham on a hard ground ball over second base. He then came around to score the winning run on a sacrifice fly from sophomore Matt Hague.

"It's all about just staying confident and trusting the team," Kaluza said. "This weekend was my turn to contribute."

The most substantial contribution Sunday came from the starter Parker. He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned). He struck out six and allowed two walks and three hits. It was his best start this season he said.

"It was nice to get my breaking ball back and throw it for strikes," Parker said. "I was just attacking the zone early. When you are getting behind hitters it's easier to give up hits."

Clinging to a one-run lead in the ninth, Washington went to Lincecum in relief. He gave the crowd a scare, putting runners at first and third with two outs, but struck out the final batter to earn the save.

"We are on a pretty good roll right now in the Pac-10," Lincecum said. I just have to do what I can to help the team win."

Coach Ken Knutson said the pitching made the difference for the UW and kept them in the ballgame. The starting pitching impressed him during the course of the series, but little else did.

"We didn't play very well," Knutson said. "[Besides the pitching] this entire series wasn't that great for us."

Washington's play was far from great in a 15-0 loss Saturday night. The game, originally scheduled for 2 p.m., did not get underway until after 6:30 p.m. due to rain.