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Lincecum stays hot, Aurilia homers as Giants rout Cubs

Jul 4, 2008 - 3:18 AM By Ryan McCrary PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Pinch hitter Rich Aurilia hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning, lifting Tim Lincecum to his 10th victory as the San Francisco Giants posted an 8-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

Lincecum (10-1), who was not as sharp as usual, struck out eight in six innings. The second-year phenom, who has not lost since April 29, allowed three runs and seven hits.

"We played well today," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "We got some huge hits. The pitching starts with Timmy and the bullpen stepped up."

It was just the second time in eight starts this week's Sports Illustrated cover subject has not pitched into the seventh inning.

"I felt like I was throwing a good array of pitches," Lincecum said. "Other than some fastballs and changeups I left over the middle of the plate, it worked out with my breaking pitches."

Despite his impressive first half, Lincecum insists pitching, or even starting, the All-Star Game is not on his radar.

"I don't even know what determines that," Lincecum said. "I don't know how it's picked, but I don't think (my 10-1 record) could hurt me. Like I said, I haven't even thought about it."

Lincecum helped his own cause with a two-out RBI single in the second inning and scored on a triple by Fred Lewis. Cubs rookie catcher Geovany Soto dropped a towering pop-up by Ray Durham, allowing Lewis to score for a 4-1 lead.

Mark DeRosa pulled Chicago within 4-3 with a two-run double in the sixth. However, San Francisco took control an inning later as Jose Castillo hit a leadoff single and Omar Vizquel popped up a bunt attempt that eluded Cubs reliever Jose Ascanio for a base hit.

Aurilia greeted Carlos Marmol with a deep drive to left field for his seventh homer of the season, giving the Giants a 7-3 lead. It was the third career blast as a pinch hitter for the veteran and the first since June 12, 2003 against the Chicago White Sox.

"They don't happen that often," said Aurilia, who initially thought his last pinch homer came in 2001. "I was fortunate that I got into a hitter's count. I just got a fastball, and luckily, it scraped the back of the wall."

"We didn't play that well at all and we got back in the ballgame," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "We just gave it up in a hurry."

Meanwhile, Marmol continued to struggle. The righthander has allowed nine runs in his last six appearances.

"I don't know, I'm just trying to make my pitches," Marmol said. "Maybe they're watching me, I don't know. I felt great. They hit the ball, that's all. I'll look at the video to see what happens. I want to get out there again, why not? I want to be there."

"We're going to look on film and see if he's tipping pitches," Chicago manager Lou Piniella said. "It's hard to give up home runs like he's been giving them up on a consistent basis, even if you tell the hitter what's coming."

Vizquel drove in the Giants' final run with a single in the eighth, finishing with two hits and snapping an 0-for-18 skid.

Chicago opened the scoring in the first as Reed Johnson slapped a leadoff double down the right field line off Lincecum and scored on a single by Derrek Lee.

San Francisco countered with a four-run second inning that began when Castillo doubled home Aaron Rowand, who collected just his second hit of the series - a single - to lead off the frame.

Cubs starter Sean Gallagher (3-4) allowed four runs and four hits with two strikeouts and a pair of walks in five innings. According to Piniella, Gallagher is expected to move to the bullpen when the Cubs activate ace Carlos Zambrano from the disabled list on Friday.