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Lincecum, Molina lead Giants past Diamondbacks

May 28, 2008 - 6:12 AM PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Bengie Molina hit a three-run home run and Tim Lincecum pitched effectively into the eighth inning to lead the San Francisco Giants to a 6-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.

Molina gave the Giants a 3-0 lead with his homer in the third inning off of Diamondbacks starter Dan Haren.

"He threw a slider and caught me a little by surprise. I didn't think he was going to throw a slider there. I thought he was going to throw the splitter or a fastball up and in," said Molina who has 20 hits in his last 35 at-bats. "It was over the plate that is how I was able to hit it. It was a mistake by him and that is what you need to do against a superstar."

Jose Castillo hit a solo home run in the fourth and Ray Durham added a run scoring double in the fifth to extend the lead to 5-0.

Lincecum (7-1) allowed three runs and six hits in 7 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out seven. He is 3-0 in his last four starts.

"Today I was able to throw my fastball pretty good even when I was getting behind. I was able to spot it when I needed to, to get groundball outs or quick outs," Lincecum said. "My curveball and slider was working as well I actually felt more comfortable with my curveball than I have in a long time."

"The kid, (Lincecum) has been so consistent and pitched so well and did a great job tonight. He got us deep in the game, he is special. He is one of the better pitchers in the game," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He has four pitches he can throw and throws hard. He knows what he is doing out there and did a great job against a tough lineup."

Haren (5-4) lasted six innings and allowed five runs and nine hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.

"I gave up five runs and felt like I could have given up a lot more," Haren said. "I had great stuff. My stuff has gotten progressively better as the season has gone on but unfortunately I haven't put it all together out there. I am feeling really good but I am not getting the results but it is a long season and we are just a third of the way through I am not worried about it much."

Brian Wilson pitched a perfect ninth for his 15th save of the season.

Arizona did not get to Lincecum until the fifth and even then it was just for one run. Jeff Salazar drew a one-out walk and advanced to second on a groundout by Haren. He scored on a single by Chris Young.

"You look at his (Lincecum) stuff and it is off the charts. After about the third inning we got in some decent counts and when we did get a pitch to hit we were missing them," Diamondback manager Bob Melvin said. "If it is 96, 97 you are a little behind it. He has good movement on his fastball when it is down, good life when it is up, a good curveball, good change and he mixed in a few sliders. He is one of the better pitchers in the league."

Orlando Hudson and Conor Jackson singled in the eighth to chase Lincecum. Chad Tracy doubled off of Tyler Walker to bring home Hudson and Jackson scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-3.