Lincecum, Giants Unable To Hold Off Phillies
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS / AP) -- Tim Lincecum wasn't concerned so much about giving up a run in the first inning to Philadelphia.
It was what the Phillies did after that bothered the Giants pitcher.
The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner fell behind early and couldn't prevent Philadelphia from piling on in a 6-2 win over San Francisco on Tuesday night.
"I just kept letting them put runs on to make the lead even bigger," Lincecum said in the quiet of the Giants' clubhouse. "It is frustrating, the lack of consistency."
Lincecum has given up five earned runs in each of his last two starts after back-to-back strong outings against San Diego. Along the way his ERA jumped from 3.64 to 4.75.
It continues a downward trend for San Francisco starters, who have one win in the past 14 games.
"(Lincecum) had good stuff tonight but along with that he had trouble commanding the fastball," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It makes it tough when you aren't doing a lot offensively."
Chase Utley and Ryan Howard homered to lead the Phillies.
Utley had three hits and two RBIs, Howard reached base four times and Kyle Kendrick pitched seven strong innings to win his third consecutive decision. The right-hander extended his scoreless streak on the road to 25 innings before giving up a sacrifice fly to Angel Pagan in the third.
Philadelphia has won two straight against the World Series champions since its own two-time Cy Young Award winner, Roy Halladay, went on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Halladay met with a specialist in Southern California earlier in the day.
"We've played two solid games," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "We were really working on moving the runners and scoring the runs. Everything was very good."
One night after getting handcuffed by Cliff Lee and the Phillies' bullpen, the Giants couldn't get much going against Kendrick and two relievers.
Kendrick (4-1) yielded six hits and two runs, needing only 88 pitches to get through seven innings. He struck out six, walked none and allowed only two runners past second base. Kendrick worked out of a two-on, none-out jam in the fourth and retired 12 of his final 14 batters.
Mike Adams pitched a scoreless eighth and Jonathan Papelbon worked the ninth to complete the seven-hitter.
The Giants, coming off a three-game sweep of the Dodgers last weekend, are now on the verge of getting swept themselves.
"Their pitcher, who has been throwing the ball well, threw the ball well again tonight," Bochy said. "They are playing well in all facets."
Utley singled and scored in the first, drove in Ben Revere with a single in the second and then homered leading off the fifth. All his hits came off Lincecum (2-2). Before that, the Phillies' second baseman was batting .167 against the right-hander.
Howard singled off Lincecum and hit his sixth homer of the season off reliever Jose Mijares with two outs in the ninth. The slugger also walked twice.
Philadelphia has won seven of its last 10 in San Francisco.
Lincecum had another shaky outing after giving up a career high-tying 10 hits in his previous start.
Utley hit a one-out line drive that ricocheted off Lincecum's rear end in the first inning and went to second when the pitcher made an awkward throw that landed in right field for an error. After Michael Young walked, Howard singled to right to drive in Utley.
Laynce Nix singled leading off the second and scored on a groundout by Jimmy Rollins. Utley's RBI single made it 3-0.
The Giants pulled to 3-2 in the third on Pagan's sacrifice fly and an RBI double by Marco Scutaro.
Utley's home run put the Phillies up 4-2.
Young doubled home Rollins in the seventh.
NOTES: The game was stopped briefly when plate umpire Mike DiMuro was hit in the facemask by a foul tip off the bat of Pablo Sandoval in the third. DiMuro was checked out by a Giants trainer and remained in the game. ... San Francisco activated Mijares from the bereavement list before the game and optioned RHP Jean Machi to Triple-A Fresno. Mijares replaced Lincecum in the eighth. ... RHP Jonathan Pettibone (2-0) pitches Wednesday for Philadelphia against LHP Barry Zito (3-1), who is unbeaten in four starts at home this season.
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