Lincecum holds down Rangers

GIANTS Lose 5-2

Starter gives up just two-run homer, striking out seven

T.R. Sullivan - MLB.com

Rangers at the plate: Ben Broussard, 13 hits in his last 30 at-bats coming into the game, hit a two-run home run in the second inning. It was his second home run of the spring. Michael Young had three hits and a walk. Ian Kinsler broke a 2-2 tie with a run-scoring triple in the seventh and scored on a single by Young.

Giants at the plate: Backup outfielder Rajai Davis had a double and a single while batting at the bottom of the order. Bengie Molina and Rich Aurilia also had a pair of singles. Every Giants starter reached base at least once by hit or walk.

Rangers on the mound: Luis Mendoza pitched five scoreless innings. He allowed six hits and a walk but the Giants were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position off him. Right fielder Marlon Byrd threw out Aaron Rowand trying to score from second on Rich Aurilia's single in the second inning. Mendoza has allowed one run in his last 10 innings.

Giants on the mound: Starter Tim Lincecum, after allowing seven runs in his previous 4 1/3 innings over two outings, held the Rangers to two runs over six innings. He allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out seven, dropping his ERA from 9.00 to 6.23.

Cactus League records: Giants 8-18-2; Rangers 14-9-2

Giants up next: Second baseman Ray Durham, recovering from a tight left hamstring, hopes to be fit enough to play at 1:05 p.m. PT Monday as the Giants face Arizona at Tucson in their next-to-last Cactus League game. Durham, batting .436, has missed four games in a row. Left fielder Dave Roberts and Molina are among the other regulars expected to make the trip.

Rangers up next: Left-hander Kason Gabbard makes his last start in Arizona against the Chicago Cubs at 3:05 p.m. CT Monday in Mesa. Relievers C.J. Wilson and Joaquin Benoit are also expected to pitch for the Rangers, with Ryan Dempster going for the Cubs.