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Lincecum looks to bounce back from injury against Braves

Aug 17, 2008 - 6:41 AM San Francisco (51-71) at Atlanta (56-67), 1:35 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- All-Star hurler Tim Lincecum was struck on the right knee by a line drive and forced to leave in the middle of Tuesday's game. However, the San Francisco Giants received good news when they learned their ace will not have to miss a start and, theoretically, that's bad news for the Atlanta Braves.

Lincecum takes the mound and hopes to bounce back from a scare as the Giants continue their four-game set with the Braves on Sunday at Turner Field.

After suffering a slight bone bruise, Lincecum (12-3, 2.67 ERA) will face the struggling Braves, who have one win in their last six games.

In his start against the Braves on August 6, Lincecum gave up two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts in eight innings en route to a 3-2 victory.

The 24-year-old is 3-0 with a 3.32 ERA in three career starts while facing the Braves.

Charlie Morton (3-6, 6.11) will counter for Atlanta with hopes of improving on his last outing in which he surrendered four runs and four hits in 2 1/3 innings during a 10-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old righthander is 0-5 with a 9.00 ERA in six starts at home this season.

On Saturday, Mike Hampton tossed six solid innings and Jeff Francoeur spearheaded a 16-hit attack by going 4-for-5 and driving in a pair of runs as the Braves posted an 11-5 win.

Greg Norton homered while Omar Infante had two hits and drove in two runs.

The night before, Matt Cain worked seven strong innings for the Giants, allowing one run and six hits en route to a 5-1 victory in the opener.