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Lincecum, Aurilia lead Giants over Padres

Apr 25, 2008 - 6:39 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Even on an off-night by his standards, Tim Lincecum was dominant.

Lincecum won a pitchers' duel and Rich Aurilia belted a home run to help the San Francisco Giants complete a two-game sweep with a 1-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday night.

The 23-year-old righthander won his fourth consecutive start by holding San Diego scoreless over 6 1/3 innings. Lincecum (4-0) allowed just four hits and struck out nine while walking five, extending his streak of scoreless frames to 16 2/3 - the longest in the major leagues.

"I struggled with my command a little bit, letting guys get away after getting ahead of them," Lincecum said. "It's just something I'm happy to overcome. It's still nice to be able to pull out a win when I'm a little off."

"(Lincecum) is for real," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He's one of those guys you'd pay to come watch pitch. He's got tremendous stuff and tremendous confidence for a kid his age."

Jack Taschner got out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh before Vinnie Chulk tossed a scoreless eighth. Brian Wilson worked around a walk to Brian Giles in the ninth to convert his seventh save in eight chances.

Aurilia spoiled an otherwise stellar outing by San Diego starter Chris Young (1-2). The 6-10 righthander yielded just one other hit before Aurilia's solo blast in the seventh gave the Giants a 1-0 advantage.

"I actually felt like I had really good swings against (Young) tonight," Aurilia said. "I felt like I was on him tonight, and it was just a matter of getting on top of that ball. I was just glad it was a timely hit because Timmy pitched his butt off tonight."

Young lasted seven innings, striking out a season-high 10 and walking three. He fell to 1-3 lifetime against San Francisco and lost at Petco Park for the first time since August 30.

"That was the best I've felt this year," Young said. "(Aurilia) sort of guessed fastball because it was a 3-2 pitch. He got the head out on the ball and, unfortunately, it cost us the game tonight. That's just the way it goes."

San Diego had runners reach third base in both the first and fourth innings against Lincecum but failed to cash in. The Padres were shut out for the third time this season.

"It goes back to, we're not getting that key hit at an opportune time," Padres manager Bud Black said. "We're struggling to get that key hit, but that's going to come. It will come."

Having played two low-scoring, extra-inning games at home prior to Thursday, the Padres have scored just three runs in their last 48 innings at Petco Park.

"I think maybe some frustration has set in," Black said. "That's a natural feeling to have when you don't get your hits. That's part of a player's pride."

Adrian Gonzalez struck out three times for the Padres, who have lost eight of nine.