Lincecum delivers gem in Giants win
Source: Agencies |
October 9, 2010, Saturday
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TIM Lincecum was in Cy Young form as he pitched a complete game 1-0 shutout to lead the San Francisco Giants over the Atlanta Braves in their National League series opener on Thursday.
Lincecum, the two-time defending Cy Young winner, allowed just two doubles while striking out 14 and walking only one in his sparkling playoff debut.
"I don't know how many he struck out but I know it's more than fingers on my hands," said Braves manager Bobby Cox of Lincecum. "His breaking stuff is always out of the strike zone. Easier said than done, don't swing at it. It's almost impossible."
Lincecum gave up a leadoff double in the first inning, then retired nine straight, including five in a row from six strike-outs, before issuing a walk in the fourth inning.
It would be 10 more batters before the Braves would get another base-runner in the seventh inning on a double by Brian McCann.
"The two balls that hurt me were the two hits," said Lincecum. "And they were leadoff hits so they put you in the shut down mode where you have to start making better pitches in better locations."
The Giants scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single by Cody Ross that eluded the glove of third baseman Omar Infante. Ross drove in Buster Posey, who led off the inning with a single and stole second. Posey, who did not record a stolen base during the regular season, appeared to be out at second base.
"One of the guys came down after that inning and said he was out by six, eight inches," said Cox. "From the dugout you can't see anything and I didn't see a reaction from our infielders."
Braves starter Derek Lowe pitched into the sixth inning and was tagged with the loss after giving up the game's only run. He also gave up four hits, while walking four and striking out six.
The Giants failed to extend their lead in the sixth after putting runners on the corners with just one out.
Posey led with a double off Lowe and advanced to third on an error on the play.
Lowe recovered to strike-out Pat Burrell, but his night came to an end when he walked the next batter, Juan Uribe. Jonny Venters came in and induced a double-play with his first pitch to get the Braves out of the inning unscathed.
"He pitched tremendous," said Cox of Lowe. "We kicked a ball at second, we kicked a ball at third. I thought he was dynamite. Our entire staff that went in there tonight pitched well."
New York took a 2-0 series lead over the Minnesota Twins in their American League Division Series as Andy Pettitte pitched seven smooth innings to lead the Yankees to a 5-2 win.
Lance Berkman hit a home run in the fifth and a go-ahead double in the seventh - immediately after a disputed pitch led to the ejection of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire - and sent the Twins to their 11th straight postseason loss. Eight of those have come against the Yankees, who trailed in each of those games.
The Twins, who haven't won a postseason game since 2004, matched the Philadelphia Phillies (1915-1976) for the second-longest postseason losing streak in history behind the Boston Red Sox (1986-1995), who lost 13 in a row.
Berkman put the Yankees ahead 3-2 with his double, one pitch after it appeared Minnesota pitcher Carl Pavano had sneaked strike three past him. Gardenhire argued with the plate umpire after Berkman's hit and was ejected.
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his second save of the series.
In St Petersburg, Florida, Texas moved to the brink of winning a postseason series for the first time, taking a 2-0 lead over Tampa Bay in their ALDS series with a 6-0 win.
The Rangers are the only current major league franchise that's never won a playoff series.
Texas' Michael Young hit a three-run homer one pitch after a disputed check-swing that prompted the ejection of Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon.
Lincecum, the two-time defending Cy Young winner, allowed just two doubles while striking out 14 and walking only one in his sparkling playoff debut.
"I don't know how many he struck out but I know it's more than fingers on my hands," said Braves manager Bobby Cox of Lincecum. "His breaking stuff is always out of the strike zone. Easier said than done, don't swing at it. It's almost impossible."
Lincecum gave up a leadoff double in the first inning, then retired nine straight, including five in a row from six strike-outs, before issuing a walk in the fourth inning.
It would be 10 more batters before the Braves would get another base-runner in the seventh inning on a double by Brian McCann.
"The two balls that hurt me were the two hits," said Lincecum. "And they were leadoff hits so they put you in the shut down mode where you have to start making better pitches in better locations."
The Giants scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning on a two-out RBI single by Cody Ross that eluded the glove of third baseman Omar Infante. Ross drove in Buster Posey, who led off the inning with a single and stole second. Posey, who did not record a stolen base during the regular season, appeared to be out at second base.
"One of the guys came down after that inning and said he was out by six, eight inches," said Cox. "From the dugout you can't see anything and I didn't see a reaction from our infielders."
Braves starter Derek Lowe pitched into the sixth inning and was tagged with the loss after giving up the game's only run. He also gave up four hits, while walking four and striking out six.
The Giants failed to extend their lead in the sixth after putting runners on the corners with just one out.
Posey led with a double off Lowe and advanced to third on an error on the play.
Lowe recovered to strike-out Pat Burrell, but his night came to an end when he walked the next batter, Juan Uribe. Jonny Venters came in and induced a double-play with his first pitch to get the Braves out of the inning unscathed.
"He pitched tremendous," said Cox of Lowe. "We kicked a ball at second, we kicked a ball at third. I thought he was dynamite. Our entire staff that went in there tonight pitched well."
New York took a 2-0 series lead over the Minnesota Twins in their American League Division Series as Andy Pettitte pitched seven smooth innings to lead the Yankees to a 5-2 win.
Lance Berkman hit a home run in the fifth and a go-ahead double in the seventh - immediately after a disputed pitch led to the ejection of Twins manager Ron Gardenhire - and sent the Twins to their 11th straight postseason loss. Eight of those have come against the Yankees, who trailed in each of those games.
The Twins, who haven't won a postseason game since 2004, matched the Philadelphia Phillies (1915-1976) for the second-longest postseason losing streak in history behind the Boston Red Sox (1986-1995), who lost 13 in a row.
Berkman put the Yankees ahead 3-2 with his double, one pitch after it appeared Minnesota pitcher Carl Pavano had sneaked strike three past him. Gardenhire argued with the plate umpire after Berkman's hit and was ejected.
Yankees closer Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth for his second save of the series.
In St Petersburg, Florida, Texas moved to the brink of winning a postseason series for the first time, taking a 2-0 lead over Tampa Bay in their ALDS series with a 6-0 win.
The Rangers are the only current major league franchise that's never won a playoff series.
Texas' Michael Young hit a three-run homer one pitch after a disputed check-swing that prompted the ejection of Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon.
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