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Lincecum sharp as GIants beat Braves

Aug 17, 2008 - 10:06 PM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Tim Lincecum continued to shine in his sensational sophomore campaign in an otherwise disappointing season for the San Francisco Giants. And he didn't even have his best stuff.

Lincecum allowed one run over 7 2/3 dominant frames to lead the Giants to a 3-1 win over the bumbling Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

Travis Ishikawa smashed his first major league home run and Emmanuel Burriss drove in a run for the struggling Giants, who won for just the second time in seven games.

Lincecum (13-3) has emerged as San Francisco's biggest star in the post-Barry Bonds era, owning the best mark as a pitcher through 16 decisions since Jason Schmidt posted an identical 13-3 record in 2004.

The 24-year-old native of the state of Washington has proven to be a stopper for the Giants this season, posting an 11-2 record with a 2.78 ERA following a San Francisco loss entering Sunday's contest at Turner Field.

Make that 12-2.

Lincecum dominated in a ballpark built for future Hall of Fame aces John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.

"He's up there with guys like (C.C.) Sabathia, (Brandon) Webb or (Roy) Halladay," Atlanta starter Charlie Morton said. "You have to be good (when facing him)."

Struggling with throwing strikes, the righthander switched from the windup to the stretch in the sixth inning despite tossing a one-hit shutout of at the time.

"I also had three walks and too many runners on base," said Lincecum, who retired eight straight after issuing a leadoff double to start the sixth. "I couldn't find a rhythm (with the windup)."

Lincecum, who last worked out of the stretch with no runners on base in college, immediately gave up a double to Yunel Escobar before retiring the next eight Braves in order.

"I was throwing strikes," Lincecum said. "That was key. The first four innings, even balls and strikes."

The Giants ace shook off any ill effects of the right knee injury that forced him to leave his August 12 start against the Astros, making a Braves club that scattered 16-hits in San Francisco's 11-5 loss on Saturday look like a bunch of minor leaguers.

"He's getting better every time he pitches," said Atlanta rookie Gregor Blanco, who struck out two times against Lincecum. "He's a pretty good pitcher."

The righthander walked four and struck out 10 to improve to 4-0 with a 2.36 ERA in four career starts against Atlanta. Lincecum, who improved to 9-1 away from AT&T Park this season, leads the senior circuit with 192 strikeouts.

"Same game, different place," Lincecum said of his road success. "It's all about making adjustments. I'm getting better acclimated to (pitching away from San Francisco)."

Lincecum left after tossing 119 pitches and issuing a two-out walk to Escobar and a single to Chipper Jones in the eighth.

Mark Kotsay greeted reliever Jack Taschner with an RBI single before closer Brian Wilson threw a wild pitch and issued an intentional walk to Brian McCann load the bases.

But the struggling Jeff Francoeur, who is a miserable 3-for-25 with the bases loaded this season. grounded out to end the threat. Wilson hurled a scoreless ninth to record his 33rd save in 35 save opportunities.

"Mentally, it's different," Wilson said of his four-out save. "But in a good way. I like it because I might have a chance to hit."

Aaron Rowand initiated the Giants' second inning rally, hustling out a double on a hit down the left field line before Ishikawa deposited his first big league homer into the right field bleachers off of Morton (3-7) to give San Francisco a 2-0 lead.

"All I was trying to do was to get (Rowand) to third," said Ishikawa, who traded two hats, two bats, two balls and an autographed picture to a fan for the milestone ball. "He threw a changeup and I was able to keep my hands back and put a good swing on it."