[新聞] 14K diamond! SF's Lincecum sparkles …
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14K diamond! SF's Lincecum sparkles in gem
Giants ace goes distance; Posey, Ross combine for lone run
By Chris Haft / MLB.com | 10/08/10 2:05 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO -- Whether the vanquished figures were Braves hitters or Giants
greats, they fell like dominoes to Tim Lincecum's touch Thursday night.
The reality of the postseason proved to be far better than any fantasy the
Giants or their fans might have harbored. Lincecum ended San Francisco's
seven-year absence from meaningful October baseball in stirring fashion,
setting a franchise postseason record with 14 strikeouts and firing a
two-hitter as the Giants outlasted the Atlanta Braves, 1-0, in Game 1 of the
National League Division Series.
Lincecum, who has pitched four regular-season shutouts, including a
two-hitter, fell short of his career-high strikeout total by one. Asked if
had ever pitched a better game, Lincecum replied, "I don't know. That's hard
to judge what 'better' would be. If you come out on top, I think that's good.
But a shutout, as far as shutouts go, I think that's up there with one of my
better ones, if I had to rate it."
Buster Posey, who shares Lincecum's knack for the dynamic effort, backed his
batterymate by scoring the game's lone run after collecting his first Major
League stolen base -- a play that was later debated.
The decision, which unfolded before a packed house at AT&T Park, extended the
Giants' winning streak in Division Series openers to four. Optimism must be
curbed, since the Giants lost two of those previous three series.
Then again, optimism comes naturally for the Giants when Lincecum's on the
mound.
"He makes us fans as well," said right-hander Sergio Romo, who was among the
Giants relievers Lincecum idled.
Lincecum, the reigning two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, has defied belief
with previous outings. But this 119-pitch gem, which the right-hander
delivered as one of seven Giants making their postseason debut, proved
remarkable in many facets.
Of the 75 strikes Lincecum threw, 33 were swinging -- an unusually high
ratio. When he struck out the side in the second inning, all nine strikes he
threw prompted swings, and 12 of his 14 strikeouts were swinging. He reached
full counts on four different hitters and fanned each one. Except for Omar
Infante, Lincecum struck out every Braves hitter at least once and notched at
least one strikeout in each inning but the fourth, when he issued his lone
walk.
After that free pass to Jason Heyward, Lincecum retired the next 10 hitters
he faced and 18 of the final 19. Doubles by Infante to begin the game and
Brian McCann with one out in the seventh were all that prevented Lincecum
from matching Philadelphia's Roy Halladay, who no-hit Cincinnati in
Wednesday's opener of that Division Series.
"This was his game and he finished it," Atlanta left fielder Matt Diaz said.
"The number of strikeouts was impressive. But he was giving us pitches to hit
virtually every at-bat. That's the thing with him and his delivery and his
ability to mix pitches. He may give you a pitch to hit, but you're probably
not going to hit it because you might not be looking for it or it's just
funky."
Lincecum obliterated the franchise postseason standard of 10 strikeouts,
shared by Jesse Barnes (Oct. 11, 1921, in relief against the Yankees), Hall
of Famer Carl Hubbell (Oct. 3, 1933, against Washington), Hal Schumacher
(Oct. 5, 1936, against the Yankees) and Jack Sanford (Oct. 10, 1962, against
the Yankees). Lincecum agreed with an interrogator who asked if setting an
all-time Giants mark was difficult to believe.
"Especially with the great arms that have come through this organization," he
said.
Fresh off leading the NL in strikeouts for the third consecutive season,
Lincecum equaled a Major League record for most strikeouts in a postseason
debut. The last pitcher to accomplish this was Houston's Mike Scott in the
1986 NL Championship Series against the Mets.
Lincecum displayed his entire array of deliveries while dominating the Wild
Card-entrant Braves. He recorded most of his early-inning strikeouts with
sliders and changeups before relying primarily on his fastball to finish
matters. His final pitch was a 92-mph heater that left Derrek Lee staring and
the largest postseason crowd at AT&T Park (43,936) roaring.
"It just felt like things were in place," Lincecum said.
All the Giants needed was a run. They collected it after Posey singled to
open the fourth and broke for second base as Pat Burrell struck out on a
full-count pitch. Umpire Paul Emmel called Posey safe, though television
replays suggested otherwise.
Asked if he was safe, Posey winced and said, "I guess it's a good thing we
don't have instant replay."
After Juan Uribe struck out, the Braves elected to intentionally walk Pablo
Sandoval. Though first base was open, it was a curious move, given Sandoval's
season-long struggles at the plate. Moreover, Derek Lowe struck him out to
end the second inning. The free pass prolonged the inning for Cody Ross, who
grounded a 2-0 pitch under third baseman Infante's glove and into left field
for an RBI single. Infante appeared to have a play on the ball, but it
somehow eluded him.
"We probably got a break," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "In a game like
this, you take it."
With Lincecum at his best, it didn't take much.
Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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