San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum watches a delivery to the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 25, 2014, in San Francisco. Lincecum threw his second career no-hitter as San Francisco won 4-0. AP
SAN FRANCISCO, California—Tim Lincecum pitched his second no-hitter against the San Diego Padres in less than a year, allowing only one runner Wednesday and leading the San Francisco Giants to a 4-0 win.
Lincecum totally shut down the weakest-hitting team in the majors, striking out six and walking one. San Francisco fielders didn’t need to make any exceptional plays to preserve Lincecum’s gem.
Lincecum (6-5) threw 113 pitches for this win, using a big-breaking curve to set up his fastball. Last July 13 at San Diego, he threw 148 pitches while holding the Padres hitless.
The 30-year-old righty with two NL Cy Young Awards became just the second pitcher in major league history to twice no-hit the same team. Hall of Famer Addie Joss did it for Cleveland against the Chicago White Sox with a perfect game in 1908 and a no-hitter in 1910.
This was the third no-hitter in the majors this season. Josh Beckett and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers previously threw them.
Chase Headley was San Diego’s lone runner, walking in the second inning after falling behind 1-2 in the count. The Padres began the day worst in the majors in batting average, runs and hits.
The Padres, incidentally, are the only franchise in the big leagues that has never pitched a no-hitter.
Lincecum made quick work of the San Diego hitters in the late innings.
He drew a standing ovation when he batted in the eighth, then struck out pinch-hitter Chris Denorfia in the ninth. Pinch-hitter Yasmani Grandal followed with a tapper back to Lincecum, who tossed to first for the out.
Will Venable was up next, and Lincecum retired him on an easy grounder to second base. Lincecum took a few steps toward first when the ball was hit, stopped to watch the play and clapped his hand into his glove when it was over.
Lincecum threw the 16th no-hitter in Giants’ team history. Just one other pitcher has thrown two – Christy Mathewson for the New York Giants more than 100 years ago.
Lincecum joined Justin Verlander, Mark Buehrle and Homer Bailey as active pitchers with two no-hitters. Nolan Ryan holds the all-time record with seven.
No longer the shaggy-haired ace of the Giants, Lincecum sported a mustache while thrilling 41,500 fans at AT&T Park. He lowered his ERA to 4.42 and put together quite a complete game – he went 2 for 3 with a walk and scored twice.
Lincecum starred for the Giants in 2010, going 16-10 as they won their first World Series crown since moving to San Francisco in 1958. He hasn’t finished with a winning record since then, and was relegated to the bullpen when the Giants won another championship in 2012.