Lincecum scratched for rest, Petit gets start
San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher Tim Lincecum was scratched from his start Sunday, hours after the team clinched its second National League West title in three years.
Lincecum, who has struggled through a 10-14 season with a 4.91 ERA, will be replaced on the month by rookie Yusmeiro Petit.
It will be Petit's first major-league start since 2009 when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Petit had a 3.46 ERA for Class AAA Fresno this season.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy said the move was part of giving his regulars two days off. The Giants play the Padres at home Sunday and have Monday off.
Bochy said Lincecum, who won the Cy Young Award in 2008 and 2009, was sent home before the Saturday's game to rest for the Sunday's start. However, when we was told he was scratched for Petit and asked return to the park to celebrate, traffic around AT&T Park made it too difficult for him to join his teammates.
