Giants Get a Win For Lincecum

By JANIE McCAULEY

AP Baseball Writer

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Unbeaten Tim Lincecum won for the first time in four starts, Juan Uribe hit a two-run homer in the fourth as San Francisco finally got to Astros ace Roy Oswalt, and the Giants beat Houston 2-1 on Saturday.

Lincecum (5-0) struck out five and walked five but outdueled Oswalt (2-5) in a rematch of the hard-throwing righties from opening day, helping the Giants improve to 5-0 against the Astros this season.

Brian Wilson relieved Lincecum after the eighth and earned his eighth save in nine chances. But not before he loaded the bases and needed 15 pitches to retire Kaz Matsui on a game-ending flyout.

Houston took the lead in the first on a wild pitch, then managed little else against Lincecum. Slugger Carlos Lee was ejected in the sixth by plate umpire Bill Welke for arguing a called third strike.

Uribe's two-out drive in the fourth put the Giants ahead, and the shortstop also had a pair of singles. His fourth homer was his first in 45 at-bats.

Lincecum earned his first win since April 23 following three straight no-decisions in which the two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner left with the lead.

The pitcher pumped his fist and yelled "Yeah!" after right fielder Nate Schierholtz made a running, diving catch on former Giant Pedro Feliz's hard liner to end the sixth.

Lincecum and the Giants won 5-2 at Houston back on April 5 to end Oswalt's three-start winning streak against San Francisco.

The 32-year-old Oswalt, who began the day with the third-lowest run support in the National League at 2.44, lost his third straight decision despite seven strikeouts and no walks in seven innings. He allowed six hits.

Oswalt said in recent days he would waive the full no-trade clause in his contract if the Astros wanted to shop him to a contender -- though he would like to stay put and help the Astros win.

Houston (13-23) owns the worst record in the National League.

Last July 5 at AT&T Park, Oswalt allowed one run and three hits over eight innings in a 7-1 victory over the Giants.

Giants leadoff hitter Aaron Rowand singled with two outs in the fifth, ending an 0-for-18 stretch. Rowand was thrown out at home moments later trying to score on Andres Torres' double.

Astros leadoff man Michael Bourn stole bases in the first and third innings -- giving him 13 this year -- a day after the Giants did early defensive work focused on holding baserunners.

NOTES: Uribe came in 3 for 8 lifetime (.375) vs. Oswalt. ... Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval was held out of the lineup after getting hit on the left foot by a pitch from Jeff Fulchino in the eighth inning Friday night. Sandoval was available to pinch-hit and could be seen dancing in the dugout. ... Astros reliever Tim Byrdak rejoined the team after receiving an injection in his lower back Friday in Houston. He is expected to play catch in the next couple of days. ... Felipe Paulino's 0-6 start is the first by an Astros pitcher since RHP Chris Holt did so from April 10-June 15, 1999. ... 49ers Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana was in the stands and received a rousing standing ovation before the top of the seventh as his highlights were shown on the main scoreboard.

 

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