Tim Lincecum no-hits the Padres -- again
As he eases into a less-dominant phase of his career, there's one team Tim Lincecum can count on to bring out his best: The San Diego Padres.
Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young-winning prodigy turned 30-year-old struggling veteran, pitched his second no-hitter in as many seasons against the Padres, efficiently dominating the worst-hitting team in the major leagues in a 4-0 Giants victory Wednesday at San Francisco's AT&T Park.
This time, it was far less of a struggle.
Lincecum needed 148 pitches - walking four and hitting a batter - to no-hit the Padres on July 13, 2013.
He also struck out 13 that night, the first time all season he even reached the eighth inning. He entered the ninth at 138 pitches.
Wednesday's gem was less dominant, but easier on the arm.
Lincecum walked just one and struck out six, completing the no-hitter in 113 pitches, 73 of them strikes. He became just the fourth active pitcher with multiple no-hitters, joining Mark Buehrle, Justin Verlander and Homer Bailey.
He came into this start struggling, as well - just 5-5 with a 4.90 ERA in the first year of a two-year, $35 million contract. But the Padres are a natural to bring out his best, and not just because of last year's gem. They entered Wednesday last in the National League in runs and batting average (.216).
And they seemed to sleepwalk through this matinee. Lincecum's lone blemish was a one-out walk issued to Chase Headley in the second inning.
"Early in the game," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said, "I thought he had a chance to throw a no-hitter. I just want to thank him for making this one a lot less stressful."
There was little tread on Lincecum's tire - just 97 pitches - entering the ninth. He quickly threw two balls to Chris Denorfia, but battled back to strike him out on a diving slider in the dirt. He got Yasmani Grandal to bounce back to the mound for the second out, and then retired Will Venable on a grounder to second to end it.
Lincecum became just the second pitcher to twice no-hit the same team, joining Hall of Famer Addie Joss. The Cleveland Indian threw a perfect game against the Chicago White Sox in 1908 and a no-hitter in 1910.
It was the third no-hitter in the major leagues this season, the first two authored by Los Angeles Dodgers starters Josh Beckett and Clayton Kershaw. With the halfway point of the season approaching, the rate of no-hitters is just off the pace of 2012, when seven no-hitters were tossed, including three perfect games - one by Lincecum's teammate, Matt Cain.
"I'm just relieved right now. To be a part of something like that is fun," said Lincecum, clad in a U.S. men's national soccer jersey featuring his No. 55. "I wasn't really thinking about it. At the very end, it kind of caught me by surprise."
It was a timely bit of dominance; the Giants came in losers of 11 of their last 14 games to see their NL West lead shrink from 9 1/2 games to just three games over the Dodgers.
"I think we all look for the opportunity to pick the team up, look for a way to be positive," Lincecum said.
There will be one less positive sign Thursday. The Padres flew back to San Diego after Wednesday's game.
