All-Star Tim Lincecum spends Tuesday in New York hospital

NEW YORK — Pitcher Tim Lincecum, the former Washington Huskies ace participating in his first All-Star Game, spent Tuesday afternoon in a New York hospital.

Lincecum, the right-handed ace for the San Francisco Giants, experienced dehydration and flu-like symptoms, according to a Giants spokesman.

That diagnosis was confirmed in a phone message from Chris Lincecum, Tim's dad, who is in New York and had been planning to attend the game.

"They took care of it, and Timmy's just taking it easy," Chris Lincecum said. "But he won't be going to the game."

Lincecum was released from the hospital Tuesday night and was resting comfortably, and was not expected to attend the game at Yankee Stadium.

Bud Black, the San Diego Padres manager who served as one of National League manager Clint Hurdle's coaches, said he found out about Lincecum's illness Tuesday afternoon.

"It's the damnedest thing," Black said. "We were leaving the hotel at 1:45 p.m. and Clint said, 'Lincecum's in the hospital.' "

According to Black, Hurdle had just received a call informing him of Lincecum's illness from Katy Feeney, a major-league executive.

Feeney, a senior vice president of scheduling and club relations, told reporters, "I don't think it was anything major."

Lincecum, who pitched eight innings Sunday in a victory against the Chicago Cubs, wasn't expected to play Tuesday night anyway, according to Black. A San Francisco radio station reported that Lincecum was taken out of his room on a stretcher, but that apparently wasn't the case.

All-Star closer Brian Wilson of the Giants said, "We're talking about a kid who eats food in a crouching-tiger position. I'm pretty sure he can walk."

Wilson said he believes that Lincecum has the flu.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com