SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- San Francisco left-hander Noah Lowry is
known for his control and even demeanor off the field.
That all took a back seat Monday when he threw 40 pitches, but
only 10 were strikes in the Giants' 6-4 extra-inning loss to the
Texas Rangers.
Lowry was pulled after walking the first two hitters he faced in
the second inning. He walked nine of 12 batters overall, giving up
four runs on no hits.
He was still in the Giants clubhouse two hours later, his mood
still strained from the performance. He tried to calm down enough
to talk before finally apologizing that he was not ready.
Lowry, who missed the final month of last season with tightness
in his left elbow, did issue a statement through the Giants media
relations department, in which he expressed disappointment in his
outing.
"There's not much to say when you don't go and throw any
strikes," he said. "I'm just upset. I'm upset my spring has
started the way it has."
Lowry has walked 12 hitters in 2 1-3 innings of work this spring
and has an ERA of 23.14.
Lowry threw 24 pitches before a Rangers hitter even took a
swing. After walking the first two hitters to open the second,
Lowry was replaced by Merkin Valdez.
Kevin Correia, who pitched three scoreless innings after a rough
outing in his first appearance, could empathize.
"I had an outing in Triple-A where I threw 12 straight balls,
walked the bases loaded, and I was done. I wasn't hurt. It was just
a weird thing. (Lowry) is one of the most mentally tough guys on
this team. I don't think this will affect him."
Giants manager Bruce Bochy wanted to give Lowry a chance to
steady himself, sending him back out for a second inning.
"It's a game he's going to have to deal with," Bochy said.
"He's going to have to bounce back and get the ball where he
wants. He's a tough kid and he'll certainly work it out in the
bullpen."
Bochy said Lowry will remain in the rotation.
"He needs to get out there," he said.
Perhaps Lowry can recover the way Correia did after his 12-ball
performance in the minors.
"Right after that I had two great starts and was named the
Pitcher of the Week," Correia said. "Then I got called back to
the big leagues."
Correia, who is also slated to start this season, said he had
better "bite" on his pitches this time out, and that his changeup
was working.
"The last outing the change was gone," he said. "That's a
pitch I rely on a lot. Today it was back and I kept it down."
Correia also expressed faith that Lowry will work through his
control issues.
"He's a gamer. He's not a guy who will do that very often. We
work out during the offseason and he takes it seriously. Even
playing catch he's focused. He'll get himself right. He's not going
to show he's beat."<
^Notes: @After the game, the Giants reassigned C Pablo Sandoval, C
Jackson Williams, OF Ben Copeland, OF Brian Horwitz and OF Mike
McBryde to their minor league camp. ... Giants C Bengie Molina said
he's running well and could be ready to play on Thursday or Friday
after running again on Tuesday to test his sore left quad muscle.