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Aces Wild: Lincecum, Kershaw square off in finale by the bay

Jul 20, 2011 - 2:33 PM (Sports Network) - The San Francisco Giants sit atop the National League West standings despite a so-so season from ace Tim Lincecum.

With wins in his last two starts, though, the two-time Cy Young Award winner could be heating up. He goes after a third straight victory this afternoon when the Giants try to close out a three-game sweep against the Los Angeles Dodgers at AT&T Park.

Lincecum was just 5-6 with a 3.39 earned run average following a loss to Oakland on June 17. Since then, though, he has won three of his four decisions and has allowed one run or less in his last five starts to get his ERA down to 2.99.

The diminutive righty struggled with his command at times on Friday against the San Diego Padres, but picked up the win, as he allowed a run and three hits in six innings to run his record above .500 to 8-7.

Lincecum, who threw 27 pitches in the first inning, walked three and also uncorked three wild pitches in the victory.

"His command was a little bit off, but the secondary stuff was good," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He wasn't as crisp as we've seen him in the past, but still nevertheless, it's good stuff, it's competitive stuff. Each and every pitch he's coming at you with deception."

Lincecum has done fairly well in his career against the Dodgers, posting a 5-2 lifetime mark against them with a 3.22 ERA in 12 games, 11 of which have been starts. He's 0-1 against them this season, despite allowing just three earned runs in 12 1/3 frames of work.

He'll have to match the quality outings thrown by teammates Ryan Vogelsong and Madison Bumgarner to open the series. On Tuesday, Bumgarner threw eight solid innings and got a home run and three RBI from Brandon Belt, who was called up from Triple-A Fresno before sparking the 5-3 victory.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, will counter with an All-Star hurler of their own on Wednesday in lefty Clayton Kershaw, who was terrific in his first start out of the break. Kershaw won for the eighth time in his last nine decisions on Friday in Arizona, as he held the Diamondbacks to four runs - all unearned and all coming in his final inning - and five hits in seven frames to improve to 10-4 on the year to go along with a 2.88 ERA.

He also fanned eight batters and leads the league with 155 strikeouts, 14 more than Lincecum who is tied for second in the league with Philadelphia's Roy Halladay heading into action on Tuesday.

Kershaw has faced the Giants nine times (eight starts) and is 3-1 against them with a 1.62 ERA.

The Dodgers should have Dioner Navarro behind the plate this evening, as he has become somewhat of a personal catcher for the talented Kershaw. He was 5-3 throwing to Rod Barajas over his first 10 starts, but is now 5-1 over his last 10 with Navarro behind the dish.

San Francisco has won the last six meetings against its longtime rival.

President Barack Obama will welcome the Giants to the White House next Monday to celebrate their 2010 World Series championship.