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OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -
Tim Lincecum
pitched the
San Francisco Giants
out of their funk against Oakland.
Lincecum stayed even with
Justin Duchscherer
in a fine matchup between two likely All-Stars,
Randy Winn
drove in the only run of the game and the Giants snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Athletics with a 1-0 victory Saturday
night.
''It's a huge lift, especially the kind of ball we played today in a pitchers' duel,'' Giants closer
Brian Wilson
said. ''He's unbelievable, the determination he has when he takes the mound. He's a true gamer.''
Lincecum (9-1) struck out 11 for his third game with 10 or more Ks this year and the fifth of his career, helping the Giants
end the long skid against their Bay Area rival.
Oakland, which allowed only eight runs during its longest winning streak against the Giants, had won 10 of the last 11 meetings
and 15 of 19 in the series.
San Francisco won with only two hits for the first time since beating the Cubs on May 17, 1995. And Lincecum again showed
why he's been so valuable, improving to 8-0 in 12 starts following his team's losses.
Tyler Walker
pitched the eighth and gave up
Kurt Suzuki
's leadoff double followed by
Jack Cust
's infield single, but recorded three straight outs to escape the jam. Winn made a game-saving catch with a tough run down
on a hard-hit ball by
Carlos Gonzalez
for the second out.
''That won the game for us,'' manager
Bruce Bochy
said.
Added Lincecum, ''That was a circus catch.''
Winn was happy to make the play - as were all his teammates who watched in anticipation thinking the ball might be over his
head.
''I just turned, put my head down and ran to where I thought it was going to be,'' Winn said. ''I had to do the worst possible
thing as an outfielder - backpedal. I don't care (how I caught it), it went in the glove and stayed in the glove. That's what
matters.''
Wilson worked the ninth for his NL-leading 22nd save in 24 opportunities to finish the seven-hit shutout - Oakland's eighth
time being blanked and the sixth shutout this season for San Francisco.
Walker knows he was fortunate.
''It was definitely a hairy inning,'' he said.
Duchscherer (8-5) had his four-start winning streak snapped but still pitched well. When he got
Aaron Rowand
to ground into an inning-ending double play in the fourth, it began a stretch in which he retired 12 of the last 13 batters
he faced including the final seven.
Duchscherer lowered his ERA from 1.99 to 1.91 and became the majors' ERA leader. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in
12 of his 13 starts, but picked up his first loss this year at home in the Coliseum (6-1).
''It's one of those games that you hope to win when you throw a game like that,'' Duchscherer said. ''You just have to tip
your hat to the other guy. I felt good coming into the game and I thought I made some good quality pitches.''
The right-hander didn't allow a hit until
Fred Lewis
led off the fourth with a single, then
Ray Durham
doubled moments later. The Giants went ahead when Winn reached on first baseman
Daric Barton
's fielding error and was credited with an RBI.
''It was another great game for Duke. He kind of breezed through the game, with the exception of that pitch Durham hit well,''
A's manager
Bob Geren
said. ''Their guy was really good too. He's one of the better pitchers we've seen all year without a doubt. I have never seen
him when he wasn't on.''
The Giants were much more alert for this one after they arrived home from a rain-delayed game Thursday night in Cleveland
at 3 a.m. Friday and then showed up late to the ballpark for Friday's game and lost 4-1.
Lincecum ended a stretch of three straight no-decisions, winning his fifth straight decision since a loss to Colorado on April
29. He allowed five hits in seven innings and walked three in an 116-pitch outing, and the Giants won for only the sixth time
in their last 17 games.
''The key for me was even though I was pitching in trouble, I found myself in a good rhythm all game long,'' Lincecum said.
Cust boosted his AL-leading strikeout total to 87 with two more K's.
The game drew a sellout crowd of 36,067, which included 1,000 standing room only tickets.
Notes: Oakland's
Rajai Davis
stole two bases against his former team, giving him 11 with Oakland. His other four this year were for San Francisco. ...
A's 3B
Eric Chavez
missed his second straight game nursing his sore right shoulder that was surgically repaired in the offseason. Chavez said
he would resume baseball activities Sunday. The pain is in the back of his shoulder and he will begin doing some new exercises
recommended by a physical therapist in San Francisco. ''Most of it is from throwing. Any time I throw it gets irritated and
then when it's irritated it affects me on offense,'' he said. ... Giants SS
Omar Vizquel
did not wear a brace on his surgically repaired left knee for the first time, but he still struggled from the plate. The 11-time
Gold Glover went 0-for-3 and is 2-for-36 (.056) over his last 12 games. He has seven hits since May 22. ... San Francisco
OF
Dave Roberts
ran the bases for the first time since he underwent left knee surgery April 12. ''It felt great, really fluid,'' Roberts said.
... Giants RHP
Merkin Valdez
played catch on flat ground as part of his recovery from an elbow injury.
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