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Lincecum wins 17th as Giants pop Padres

Sep 14, 2008 - 5:40 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Tim Lincecum added another impressive accomplishment to his campaign for the National League Cy Young Award.

Lincecum pitched his first career shutout and complete game as the San Francisco Giants took down the San Diego Padres, 7-0, on Saturday.

Bengie Molina belted a two-run home run in the first inning, providing all the run support Lincecum would need as he cruised to his sixth straight victory and led the Giants to their eighth win in 10 games.

"It was nice to get (the complete game)," said Lincecum, who threw 138 pitches. "I felt pretty good still (in the ninth). The adrenaline kind of takes over and I had a little bit of extra energy for the last few batters. It's nice to get a complete game, and it just happened to be a shutout."

The major league leader in strikeouts with 237, Lincecum allowed four hits, and struck out 12 to reach the double-digit mark in strikeouts for the eighth time this season. The 24-year-old righthander lowered his National League-best ERA to 2.43 while issuing three walks.

"I knew how bad the kid wanted (the complete game)," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "That was going to be his last batter no matter what. He was throwing well even at the end. With a chance to get a shutout, I know he wanted it and we let him go."

San Diego never mounted a serious scoring threat against Lincecum, who improved to 3-0 this season against the Padres.

"Lincecum is always tough," Padres second baseman Edgar Gonzalez said. "His stuff is unbelievable. Tonight, he was mostly trying to spot the fastball and using his off-speed pitches more. Whatever he does, he's pretty effective."

Molina's blast against San Diego starter Chris Young accounted for the only scoring in the game's first six frames, until Eugenio Velez belted a double in the seventh and Omar Vizquel followed with a single to plate Velez and pad the advantage to 3-0.

"It sounded good off the bat, but I never thought it was going to go out," Molina said. "When we went up two-nothing, it gave (Lincecum) a little cushion, actually a big cushion with the way he has been pitching. I was glad to help him early like that and make him settle down."

Velez singled home Rich Aurilia in the eighth against reliever Mike Ekstrom to push the lead to 4-0. Randy Winn, Molina and Aurilia each drove in a run in the ninth as the Giants tacked on three insurance runs.

Young (5-6) surrendered three runs and seven hits over seven innings in losing a second matchup with Lincecum this season. The 6-10 righthander also suffered the defeat on April 24 despite allowing one run in a 1-0 loss. He struck out nine and walked one batter.

"(Young) threw the ball fine," Padres manager Bud Black said. "His stuff was good. The changeup was effective and he located the fastball. They nicked him for a run there in the seventh, and then the one pitch to Bengie. Overall, he pitched good, seven innings and three runs, you'll take that every time."

The Padres were shut out for the 12th time this season as they suffered their fourth loss in five games.