SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco Giants opened their post-season on a winning note Thursday as two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum struck out 14 in a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
The Filipino-American pitcher was brilliant in his playoff debut, allowing only two hits and a walk while fanning 14 in a shutout, as the NL West champion San Francisco Giants edged the Atlanta Braves 1-0 in game one of their National League Division Series.
Lincecum tied a major league record for the most strikeouts in the first playoff career start, as San Francisco won their first postseason game since their last playoff appearance seven years ago.
"That's one of the best efforts I've ever seen," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "What a great job that kid did. He's tough."
Cody Ross drove in the game's only run after a missed umpire call in the fourth inning. Buster Posey had two hits, scored a run and also stole the first base of his career.
Lincecum pitched a gem, a day after Philadelphia's Roy Halladay threw only the second no-hitter in postseason history in his debut. Lincecum outdueled playoff veteran Derek Lowe.
Ross singled in the only run Lincecum needed in the fourth after Posey was called safe on a steal of second by umpire Paul Emmel. But Posey appeared to be tagged out by Brooks Conrad on the play.
"I haven't seen it," manager Bobby Cox said. "Some of the guys came down after that inning and said he was out by six, eight inches. From the dugout you can't see anything."
Lincecum threw 119-pitches in the two hours, 26 minutes game. He became just the 12th pitcher with 14 or more strikeouts in a postseason game.
This was the first 1-0 game in the playoffs in five years, when the Chicago White Sox finished off a World Series sweep over Houston.
Game two of this best-of-five series is Friday, with Matt Cain going for the Giants against Tommy Hanson.
No comments:
Post a Comment