Brave Lincecum dominates Atlanta
Tim Lincecum once again proved it truly is the year of the pitcher, dominating the Atlanta Braves and helping his San Francisco Giants claim game one of their National League Division Series.
It wasn’t quite as good as Roy Halladay’s no-hitter but the two-time NL Cy Young winner delivered a two-hit complete game shutout, striking out 14 in a dominating play-off debut. It was just what the Giants needed in their first post-season appearance in six years, especially in a tight 1-0 victory over the Braves in which the only run came on a questionable umpire decision.
"As far as shutouts go, I think that was up there with my better ones. I was pretty anxious to get out there a couple days ago. You just have to deal with those extra days,” Lincecum said.
“It just felt like things were in place. It kind of progressed as it did. All the pitches were working.”
The only run of the game came from Cody Ross who singled Buster Posey. That came after Posey had stolen second base – the first of his career - and was called safe by the umpire – a call that looked to be wrong in real time.
"I guess it's a good thing we don't have instant replay right now. It was a beautiful slide, wasn't it?” Posey said after the game.
Lincecum joins Roger Clemens as the only pitchers to strikeout at least 14 hitters and allow two hits or fewer in a post-season shutout and has tied for third for the most strikeouts in a play-off shutout victory. He also became the first pitcher since 1986 to start his play-off career with a 1-0 shutout victory. The 26-year-old gave up just two walks in an effort his manager was certainly delighted with.
"That's one of the best efforts I've ever seen. What a great job that kid did. He's tough,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
Game two is on Friday night with Matt Cain taking on Atlanta’s Tommy Hanson.
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