Hicks racks up strikeouts against Angels

TEMPE, Ariz. — Jordan Hicks was electric again in his fourth outing of spring.

The 27-year-old right-hander struck out five Los Angeles Angels batters in a row and six of the final eight he faced in the San Francisco Giants’ 5-2 win Wednesday.

Hicks adjusted mid-outing to throw more of his four-seam fastball when he caught on to the Angels sitting on his sinker. He generated plenty of swings-andmisses mixing in his splitter and slider off his four-seam.

After falling behind 3-0 in the count to Anthony Rendon with two outs in the fifth, Hicks called for catcher Patrick Bailey to chat on the mound, and the rest of the infield and pitching coach Bryan Price joined. Hicks’ legs were fatigued and he needed a breather, he said later.

“Felt a little fatigue after the second out,” Hicks said. “It was just legs. Arm felt great, it felt so electric. Just wasn’t sitting right on that back leg very much, and that’s where things can get dangerous for throwers. You want to be feeling good.”

Fatigue management is key for Hicks in his transition from reliever to starter. But Hicks is checking off every box to get his stamina to where it needs to be before the regular season begins next week.

He threw 84 pitches in 42⁄3 innings, first navigating trouble when he didn’t have what he calls a “straight line” focus over the plate. He corrected that and hit his groove, finishing with six strikeouts, three walks and one earned run allowed on three hits. He thinks he’ll throw one more game before the season starts to get up to 95-100 pitches.

With Blake Snell on board, Hicks could be the victim in a rotation crunch down the line if and when Alex Cobb (hip surgery) and Robbie Ray (Tommy John surgery) return. Hypotheticals aren’t on Hicks’ mind.

“I’m confident in my abilities,” Hicks said. “If I keep progressing and being in the zone with my stuff, I’ve always had that feeling that I am a starter. It’s more about being in the zone consistently.”

Jung Hoo Lee and Bailey returned to the lineup from their respective injuries. Lee, who was experiencing hamstring tightness, went 2-for-2 with a double, single and a walk against lefthander Tyler Anderson. Lee was pinch-run for at second base in the fifth inning to keep him off his legs post-injury.

The left-handed hitter has a seamless approach against both lefties and righties with a strategy he said he perfected in the Korean Baseball Organization, although he withheld details on the approach for competitive reasons.

Bailey, who was removed from a March 12 game against the Dodgers after taking a foul ball off his right hand, went hitless in three at-bats.

Roster moves: Infielders Casey Schmitt and David Villar were optioned Wednesday and will start the season with Triple-A Sacramento. Schmitt was a candidate to fill a role off the bench for his ability to play multiple infield positions.

Behind presumed regulars Matt Chapman, Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores, Tyler Fitzgerald and Marco Luciano are the only infielders remaining on the 40-man roster.

Non-roster invitee Nick Ahmed

has been getting the most time at shortstop and is a clear front-runner to be the everyday player at that position.

Briefly: Flores was a late scratch from Wednesday’s lineup; he said that he had some knee soreness in Tuesday night’s game but there is no alarm about it. “It’s nothing,” he said. … Cobb’s three-inning stint Friday is likely to come at the team’s training site at Papago Park. He had wanted to go in a Cactus League game before the team departs but with the addition of Blake Snell, plus several rainouts last week affecting the pitching plans, Logan Webb and Keaton Winn will be working the split-squad games against the Cubs that day.