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Cubs win despite Lincecum's gem

Aug 22, 2007 - 6:02 AM By Ryan McCrary PA Sports Ticker contributing writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - Tim Lincecum held the Chicago Cubs scoreless for eight innings and surrendered just two hits before falling apart in the ninth inning as the Cubs prevailed, 5-1, over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Lincecum allowed three straight hits to begin the ninth as the Cubs tied the game, 1-1, before recording an out.

Ryan Theriot led off the ninth with a double down the line and advanced to third on Jacque Jones' single. Derrek Lee followed by plating Theriot with the game-tying single.

Brad Hennessey was brought in to get the Giants out of the jam, but instead he walked Aramis Ramirez before giving up a two-run single to Cliff Floyd as the Cubs took a 3-1 lead.

It was an exceptionally poignant moment for Floyd in his first game back after nine days on the bereavement list following the passing of his father, Cornelius.

"Coming back and helping the team the first time back is a great feeling," Floyd said. "I can't really explain it, except it really felt like he was inside me. I've never felt like that before."

The Cubs tacked on two more runs on Jason Kendall's two-run single.

Despite the loss, Lincecum continues to establish himself at the major league level. Just one year removed from earning the Golden Spikes Award presented to the top collegiate player, the rookie righthander dazzled against the Cubs Tuesday night.

Lincecum pitched eight innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking one.

Cubs starter Jason Marquis struggled with control in the opening inning on his 29th birthday, walking Dave Roberts and the slumping Ray Durham and then walked Barry Bonds intentionally to load the bases. Ryan Klesko's groundout produced the only run the Giants could muster as the righthander got Bengie Molina to pop-up to end the threat.

"I was just trying to be too fine," Marquis said. "I was able to make an adjustment. I was able to stay inside myself. It's definitely a nice birthday gift."

Marquis pitched seven innings, allowing just three hits and one run. The righthander struck out five and walked five before being relieved by Scott Eyre in the eighth.

Eyre (1-1) pitched a perfect eighth before Ryan Dempster closed the door on the Giants in the ninth inning.

"I tell you this, both pitchers pitched really, really well," Chicago manager Lou Piniella said. "Floyd gets a big hit. I tell you, Cliff has to feel good about that. I'm happy for him. It's a big win, what can I say?"

Lincecum needed just 54 pitches - 39 for strikes - to get through the first five innings. His first three-ball count of the game was against Lee in the fourth inning and after falling behind 3-0, struck out the Cubs slugger. Lincecum retired the side in order every inning but the second and sixth, with the lone hit an infield single by DeRosa in the second.

"He's got some of the best stuff I've seen this year and I hope I don't see any better because I might be in trouble," shortstop Mike Theriot said.

Kendall collected Chicago's second hit of the game to start the sixth, but Lincecum struck out Marquis, got a flyout and a pop-up to end the inning.

"Our kid, what a game he was pitching," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "They just got the hits there, but it is a tough way to break the streak. He just got some balls up there in the ninth they took advantage of."

Omar Vizquel tripled with one out and none on in the seventh but the Giants let Marquis off the hook as Lincecum hit a shallow grounder for the second out. Roberts drew his second walk of the game and promptly stole second before Durham struck out to end the uprising.

Lincecum was not the only one working on a gem as Marquis also shook off early struggles for a quality night. The Chicago starter escaped more jams than his San Francisco counterpart and stranded two runners in the first and fourth.

"Marquis pitched well, his ball was sinking, he had a good breaking ball and he started out not finding the strike zone," Piniella said. "We were 8/9 not in business there, but the 1/9 we were in business."