• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Lincecum gets 15th win as Giants top Rockies

Aug 28, 2008 - 6:14 AM By Al Barba PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- A powerful performance by ace Tim Lincecum and powerful swings by Bengie Molina and rookie Pablo Sandoval lifted the San Francisco Giants to a 4-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday.

A National League Cy Young Award candidate, Lincecum (15-3) allowed one run and five hits in 7 2/3 innings, while walking three and striking out 10. It marked the seventh time the righthander has reached double digits in strikeouts.

"The first couple innings they got some hits off him, but he settled down," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Lincecum. "He got in a good groove and started getting the ball down. He was leaving some off-speed pitches up early, but he made some adjustments and started getting it down. That was the difference in the game."

After allowing a run in the second inning, Lincecum held the Rockies hitless until Brad Hawpe singled with one out in the seventh.

Colorado starter Livan Hernandez (1-3) pitched as impressively, limiting San Francisco to three hits through six innings before the Giants struck twice in the seventh.

"I've got to be perfect. I think what happened to me was I tried to do too much," Hernandez said. "It's hard to be perfect. I get outs with ground balls and flyouts."

With one out, Molina reached Hernandez for a home run over the left-center field fence. Sandoval hit the next pitch for an opposite-field home run, the first of his career.

"I was just hoping he would lift something up in the zone. He was pitching good," Molina said. "He was tough today, really tough. I was looking for him to make a mistake and finally he did and I was able to take advantage of it."

The home run was the spark the Giants were looking for after struggling to score runs in the first two games of the series and not having any success against Hernandez through the first six innings.

"That was my first home run. Everyone was waiting for the moment, so that was the best chance to get the win for Lincecum," Sandoval said. "That had never happened before in my life. That was like making my dream come true."

Lincecum, who improved to 13-2 following a Giants loss, came back out to pitch the eighth and struck out pinch hitter Scott Podsednik, walked Willy Taveras and retired Matt Holliday on a fly ball before being replaced by Jack Taschner after throwing 132 pitches.

"I told (Bochy) how I felt. I was being honest with him," Lincecum said. "Everything was still working fine. I was just trying to stay locked in as long as possible and go for as long as I can."

Brian Wilson came on to get the final four outs to record his National League-leading 36th save.

"I thought it was very well played through seven innings. Lincecum was lights out and Livan was doing his thing. The kid was electric for them," Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. "It's tough to sweep a team and they had their ace on the mound and he showed you why."

The Rockies, who had their four-game winning streak snapped, put together back-to-back hits in the second to score their lone run after Chris Iannetta's double and Troy Tulowitzki's RBI single.

"He's tough. I was a little bit lucky the last couple at-bats," said Iannetta, who had three hits against Lincecum. "He's a great pitcher to begin with. He's always shown that. He pitched really well."