SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Los Angeles left-hander Ted Lilly would have liked to pitch to defending NL MVP Buster Posey. The weather just would not co-operate Friday.
Once the hail came down in earnest, Posey didn't even wait for the umpires, he walked out of the batter's box.
"Those are the things you need," Lilly said after recording two outs before heavy rain and hail ended the proceedings. "I wanted to pitch to Posey with a guy on second, when you need to make a quality pitch to a good hitter."
The game was stopped in the bottom of the second with Los Angeles up 4-0.
Lilly, who said he's completely over his shoulder problems, thought he might pitch again in four days.
Lilly's season ended last May due to left shoulder inflammation.
"I'm not even thinking that way," Lilly said. "I'm trying to get myself in the best pitching condition possible so that I can pitch the way I am capable."
Matt Kemp is also recovering from shoulder injury and says he has no issues.
"I just have to go out there and let it go," Kemp said. "It's like any normal spring training. It was my eighth at bat. I need to see pitches and find my rhythm. I have 24 days to find my rhythm and even if I don't have it by Opening Day, I know I will find it way before the season is over."
Giants manager Bruce Bochy expressed concern about closer Sergio Romo, who threw 26 pitches in Team Mexico's 6-5 loss to Italy in an opening round game of the World Baseball Classic on Thursday night. Because he did not reach 30 pitches, he was eligible to pitch again Friday.
"If you're going to go that way, you're better off throwing four more pitches," Bochy said. "The rules are established to protect these pitchers. You can't blame Mexico because they will be fighting for their lives and they want to win."
Romo clearly laboured in his one inning stint, going to a full count three times and giving up the go-ahead runs.
"Hopefully you trust them to be honest," Bochy said. "It's a little frustrating when you don't know if they are 100 per cent honest. That's why we checked in with him. We have a guy's career here. He has to understand he has some responsibility here."
Giants starter Barry Zito gave up three runs on four hits in his one inning of work against the Dodgers. All the runs scored with two outs.
"My timing was off a little bit," Zito said. "I was just missing out over the plate a little bit on most of those hits. It was all kind of small misses and not a lot of huge misses. They capitalized; they were swinging the bat aggressively."
NOTES: Giants RHP Tim Lincecum will pitch a simulated game Sunday morning instead of making his scheduled spring start. ... Former Dodgers Ron Cey and Tommy Davis are in town as guest instructors for the weekend. ... Tommy Lasorda throws out the first pitch before Saturday's Team USA-Italy WBC game. ... RHP Aaron Harang is scheduled to start Saturday's game for the Dodgers against the Seattle Mariners. ... The Giants send RHP Yusmeiro Petit to the mound Saturday against the Kansas City Royals. ... Giants LHP Javier Lopez (contusion on left wrist) was scheduled to make his spring debut Friday and will likely throw Saturday. ... Giants OF Andres Torres (oblique strain) can hit right-handed and is swinging left-handed in the cage. Bochy said he would play Sunday or Monday.
