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Lincecum Stays Sharp, Giants Shut Out Diamondbacks

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS / AP) -- 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 Hill's 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 Crawford's 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 Crawford's 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 Francisco's 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 didn't 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. It's Montero's 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), Arizona's 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 month's draft. ... To make room for Scutaro, 2B Brandon Hicks was designated for assignment.

© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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