San Francisco Giants ace and former Washington Husky Tim Lincecum was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday night against San Diego due to spasms and inflammation in the lower left side of his back.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he hopes Lincecum, the reigning N.L. Cy Young Award winner, will take his next turn in the rotation – Sunday against the N.L. West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers – and will only need a couple of days of rest to let his back calm down.

Lincecum, who was undergoing treatment and unavailable to the media, was seen by a back specialist on Tuesday and underwent tests. He’s also taking anti-inflammatories for the injury and will be re-evaluated later in the week.

Pair trying to clear Jackson’s name

Two Chicago attorneys – Paul Duffy, who represents the fledgling Chicago Baseball Museum organization, and Daniel Voelker, who has sat on the group’s board of directors – take exception with assertions made about “Shoeless” Joe Jackson in the 1963 book by the late Eliot Asinof, “8 Men Out.”

In mid-April, the pair decided to take a closer look at Asinof’s research of the so-called “Black Sox” scandal, which is now housed at the Chicago History Museum. Asinof’s archives, they said, lacked interview notes from any of the scandal’s principals. Instead, the research consisted mainly of newspaper accounts of the time, which are thought by some to be untrustworthy, they said.

Clearing the bases

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel gave Brad Lidge a vote of confidence, saying he will remain the team’s closer, despite Lidge’s 0-7 record and 7.15 ERA. … MLB suspended Tigers reliever Fernando Rodney three games for throwing a ball toward the stands last week. … The Minnesota Twins activated 3B Joe Crede from the 15-day DL and added pitcher Armando Gabino and 1B/OF Justin Huber to the 40-man roster. … The Milwaukee Brewers activated OF Corey Hart from the 15-day DL and recalled 3B Mat Gamel from Triple-A Nashville. … The Florida Marlins activated reliever Brendan Donnelly from the DL and recalled pitcher Chris Volstad and IF Gaby Sanchez from Triple-A New Orleans. … The Chicago Cubs recalled pitcher Jeff Samardzija from Triple-A Iowa.