SAN FRANCISCO -- Tim Lincecum and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, and Lincecum drove in a run with a safety squeeze, helping the San Francisco Giants beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-0 on Friday night. Pablo Sandoval homered and drove in three runs to break out of a slump that extended back to late June. The Giants third baseman, hitting just .222 over his previous 16 games, also had an RBI-double and an infield single. Lincecum (9-5) allowed three hits over seven innings and fanned Gerado Parra to end a two-on, two-out jam in the seventh. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, owner of a no-hitter this season, struck out six and walked two. Even longtime nemesis Paul Goldschmidt struggled against Lincecum. The Arizona first baseman went hitless in three plate appearances against the right-hander. It is the first time Lincecum has won four consecutive starts since April 5-23, 2010. During his current streak, he has given up just one run over 30 1-3 innings -- a remarkable 0.30 ERA. Lincecum helped himself at the plate and recovered after stumbling over the bag while covering first base on Aaron Hills infield grounder for the final out in the third. Juan Gutierrez pitched 1 1-3 innings and Jeremy Affeldt got the final two outs to complete the shutout. San Francisco had lost 15 of its last 19 games at AT&T Park before jumping on Arizona starter Mike Bolsinger (1-6) for two runs in the first and two more in the second. Sandoval got the Giants going with his 11th home run of the season, a two-run blast to right. Brandon Crawfords RBI single in the second made it 3-0. Lincecum followed with a safety squeeze to drive in Joe Panik, who walked and took third on Crawfords hit. Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt opened the fifth with consecutive singles before Sandoval doubled down the left field line to extend the Giants lead to 5-0. Bolsinger gave up five runs and eight hits over five innings. The Arizona rookie struck out five and walked two but is winless since April 24. Before the game the Giants activated second baseman Marco Scutaro from the disabled list. The 38-year-old infielder, who played a pivotal role in San Franciscos march toward the 2012 World Series championship, has not played this season because of a lower back strain. The Diamondbacks welcomed back one of their key players but didnt get the same spark. Outfielder Mark Trumbo, sidelined with a stress fracture in his left foot since April 21, went 1 for 4 and grounded out to third to end the game. NOTES: Lincecum has pitched 27 consecutive scoreless innings at AT&T Park. ... Scutaro will make his first start Saturday. ... Arizona C Miguel Montero was named to the NL All-Star team as a replacement for injured St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina. Its Monteros second All-Star selection. ... Goldschmidt has reached base safely in 31 straight games, matching his career high. ... To make room for Trumbo, the Diamondbacks optioned OF Roger Kieschnick to Triple-A Reno. ... LHP Wade Miley (4-6), Arizonas starting pitcher on Saturday, has a 3.63 ERA in seven career games against San Francisco. ... Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong (5-6) has lost his previous three starts. ... San Francisco signed first-round draft pick Tyler Beede to a contract that includes a signing bonus of more than $2.6 million. Beede was the 14th overall pick in last months draft. ... To make room for Scutaro, 2B Brandon Hicks was designated for assignment. .Y. -- Defenceman Ryan Murphy had a goal and an assist and Drew MacIntyre made 24 saves to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Islanders 4-2 in an exhibition game Wednesday night. .com) - The Winnipeg Jets placed defenceman Paul Postma on injured reserve Tuesday.
http://www.cheapbuccaneersjerseyssale.c ... y-sale.com) - On a night the Bulls played without Derrick Rose, it was time for Pau Gasol to take charge. .C. -- Al Jefferson knows few people will be giving the Charlotte Bobcats a chance to upset the Miami Heat in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. . -- The Sacramento Kings have signed first-round pick Nik Stauskas to his rookie contract.NEW YORK, N.Y. - Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig hopes for incremental progress from his new committee that will try to take steps to shorten game times.Nothing huge, but significant, Selig said Tuesday, a day after announcing the new panel. I just think theres some things that we can do that wont disturb the game and its history and tradition but will maybe do things a little better.Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz chairs the committee, which includes Commissioner-elect Rob Manfred, players association head Tony Clark, Boston Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner and partner Michael Gordon, New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson and Major League Baseball Executive Vice-President Joe Torre.The average time of a nine-inning game has increased from 2 hours, 33 minutes, in 1981 to a record 3:03 this year. When Manfred was elected commissioner last month, many owners said speeding up the pace of play and decreasing game times was a top priority.Selig said it would be wrong to blame increased use of instant replay this year. MLB says the 1,230 video reviews through Monday have averaged 1 minute, 46 seconds.I remember Billy Martin, Earl Weaver, my pal Sparky Anderson, Lou Piniella throwing bases, kicking dirt, wild for 10 and 12 minutes, Selig said. We dont have that anymore. So do I believe that this has contributed? I do not.Selig spoke at Yankee Stadium to present Derek Jeter with the Commissioners Historic Achievement Award. Jeter cautioned against changing the rules too much.The great thing about baseball is theres no clock, Jeter said. Some fans comme to the games, they enjoy the experience.dddddddddddd They want to stay here for a long time.MLB cant alter the rules for 2015 without agreement from the players association, but could implement changes unilaterally with one year advance notice.Retired star Ken Griffey Jr., speaking in Oakland, said the pace of play isnt the issue.What, tell people they cant get out of the box? he said. The issue, parents or anybody else, theyve got a go time. No matter whats going on during the day, if theyve got kids, were going to leave at 9:30, thats our go time. It doesnt matter whats going on in the game. Theyll listen to it on the radio. Ive got three kids, I know that go time. I know that by heart.Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said baseball should be careful of those doing the most complaining about game times and nodded at media assembled in front of him.Some of that is part of the beauty of the game, he said.Chicago Cubs manager Rick Renteria advocated the enforcement of current rules, such as 8.04, which states: When the bases are unoccupied, the pitcher shall deliver the ball to the batter within 12 seconds after he receives the ball. Each time the pitcher delays the game by violating this rule, the umpire shall call Ball. I think that we as managers or coaches, when we sit here and were watching, the tempo, the pace of the game, with some pitchers its a turtles pace. It can be a little disheartening, Renteria said. Your defence starts to kind of get lax.___AP Sports Writers Janie McCauley and Andrew Seligman contributed to this report. ' ' '
