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Giants try to rebound after losing gem by Lincecum

Aug 22, 2007 - 2:31 PM Chicago Cubs (64-60) at San Francisco (55-71) 10:15 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- After squandering a stellar start by Tim Lincecum on Tuesday, the San Francisco Giants will look rebound on Wednesday when they take on the Chicago Cubs in second game of a three-game set.

Lincecum allowed just two hits through eight innings, but after giving up a game-tying run on three consecutive hits in the ninth, Brad Hennessey was brought in. Hennessey did not provide much relief as he walked Aramis Ramirez before giving up the go-ahead hit to Cliff Floyd.

The Cubs needed the victory to stay tied atop the National League Central with the Milwaukee Brewers (65-61), who beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-4, on Tuesday.

The Cubs will send Rich Hill (7-7, 3.73 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. Hill was outstanding his last time out, leading the team to a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday. The Cardinals' lone run came on Albert Pujols' solo home run as Hill allowed just three hits over seven innings while striking out seven batters.

Hill pitched eight strong innings in his last start against the Giants, yielding just two runs and four hits as the Cubs won, 3-2, on July 16. For his career, Hill is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in four starts against San Francisco.

Barry Zito (9-11, 4.88) will toe the rubber for the Giants. Zito dominated the Florida Marlins in his last start, pitching seven innings of one-hit baseball. The lefthander struck out eight and walked two as San Francisco prevailed, 3-0, on Friday.

Zito has faced Chicago once this season, allowing two runs and five hits in seven innings while striking out eight as the Giants beat the Cubs, 4-2, on July 17.