Lincecum Throws Another No-No: Rapid Reaction

Giants SP Tim Lincecum threw his second no-hitter in less than a year, against the same team. His feat matches Christy Mathewson as the second Giants pitcher to throw multiple career No-Nos.

The San Francisco Giants were in the middle of another tail-spin of a home series – this time, against the San Diego Padres. Their first two starters – Matt Cain and Tim Hudson – were rocked in their first two games.

Up stepped Tim Lincecum – a man who had lost his previous two outings, giving up six earned runs in 12.0 combined innings.

His saving grace? He liked pitching against the Padres – he had gone 8-3 against the Pads in the past three seasons, including a 148-pitch no-hitter last July.

So, who would’ve guessed he not only stopped the bleeding for the Giants – but pitched his second career no-hitter …

… against the same team?

In a 113-pitch gem, “Big Time Timmy Jim” once again looked like a two-time Cy Young Award winner, quietly shutting down San Diego’s hitters, and giving up only one walk in the process. If not for Chase Headley’s base-on-balls in the second inning, Lincecum might have been looking at a possible perfect game. He also threw six strikeouts for the Giants (46-32), that needed to salvage an already-lost series against the Padres.

He obviously needed some help on offense to alleviate the pressure of another losing streak. Despite leaving another 10 men on base – a constant problem for the Giants offense – C Hector Sanchez, 3B Pablo Sandoval and 1B Buster Posey got Lincecum 4 runs to work with.

But it was Lincecum – who matched the great Christy Mathewson as the second pitcher in Giants franchise history with multiple career no-hitters – who set the tone. On top of his brilliant pitching performance, the 30-year-old fan favorite also recorded two hits and scored two runs to help his own cause.

On top of everything, Lincecum said afterwards that he wasn’t thinking on the mound as he marched toward baseball history. Reports during the game said he was not the typical “superstitious” hurler in the midst of a historic performance – he was jovial and talking with teammates in the dugout.

Ultimately, with an overall record of 6-5 thus far in the regular season, you have to wonder if this is simply another anomaly, or a sign of things to come for Lincecum in 2014.

Ironically enough, Lincecum threw the third no-hitter of the season, joining two pitchers from the rival Los Angeles Dodgers – Josh Beckett (May 25) and Clayton Kershaw (June 18). It may have been, statistically, the worst hitting team in the league, but it no doubt is still an impressive feat, especially approaching the All-Star Break in less than three weeks.

It also speaks to Lincecum’s talent on the mound – despite his inconsistency and struggles over the past five years, No. 55 proved once again that, once he is dialed in, he’s nigh untouchable by opposing hitters.

He proved it once again, against the same team he no-hit almost a calendar year ago: The Freak, as they say, truly Knows No Hitters.