Lincecum masterful in 2-hitter for Giants in 10-0 victory over Cardinals

Giants’ Lincecum dominates Cardinals with 2-hitter

ST. LOUIS — Checking the St. Louis Cardinals’ lineup a few hours earlier, Tim Lincecum was thinking like a pitcher who’s still trying to prove he belongs.

After his masterful two-hitter Monday night, the San Francisco Giants right-hander said you can never put too much stock in your own resume. Even the reigning NL Cy Young winner.

“It’s not insecurity, it’s just that I know this game can be humbling at times,” Lincecum said after the Giants’ 10-0 rout. “I’m just being careful. It’s not about what I did, it’s about what I’m doing right now.”

Lincecum (8-2) tied teammate Matt Cain for the league lead with his third complete game, all in the last four outings, and his 2.37 ERA is second in the NL. He has three career shutouts and five career complete games, a total that could increase if he continues to work efficiently.

Lincecum needed only 95 pitches, the fewest of his career, and faced only two three-ball counts to match his career low. He finished off the Cardinals in a snappy 2 hours, 6 minutes.

“He’s got great stuff, obviously Cy Young stuff,” losing pitcher Brad Thompson said.

Lincecum is hoping to be back on the Busch Stadium mound in two weeks for the All-Star game. He was chosen for last year’s game in New York, but watched from a hospital bed after suffering from flulike symptoms and dehydration.

“I’m not the one who says it’s going to be, but that would be awesome,” Lincecum said. “Maybe I could actually play in the game this year.”

The Cardinals have lost five of six while scoring three or fewer runs in all the setbacks, including two shutouts. Thompson (2-4) allowed four runs in six innings.

Lincecum retired the first 14 in order before Rick Ankiel lofted a broken-bat single to center with two outs in the fifth. Albert Pujols doubled off the left-field wall with one out in the seventh for the Cardinals’ only other baserunner.

“He throws his fastball different places — bigger break, smaller break. He’s got a nice changeup he throws to both sides,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. “He’s a pitcher, he’s not a thrower.”

Edgar Renteria’s three-run double capped a five-run seventh as the Giants batted around against rookie Clayton Mortensen, making his major league debut. Only one of the runs was earned because of a throwing error by second baseman Skip Schumaker.

Lincecum’s eight strikeouts gave him the major league lead with 132 in 114 innings, and his 2.37 ERA is second in the NL. He’s been nearly perfect in four starts against the Cardinals, winning all of them with a 1.61 ERA.

Over his last eight starts, he’s 5-1 with a 1.27 ERA. He got an extra day of rest for this start and is 10-2 under that scenario.

The Giants lead the majors with nine shutouts, including two straight counting a 7-0 win at Milwaukee on Sunday.

At Los Angeles, Andre Ethier hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 13th off Joel Peralta (0-1), who had made 11 straight scoreless appearance since May 25.

James McDonald (2-1), the eighth Dodgers pitcher, struck out two in a perfect inning for the win.

Ryan Spilborghs hit his sixth homer for Colorado, which remained the only team in the majors without an extra-inning victory, dropping to 0-4.

At San Diego, Houston’s Roy Oswalt threw a two-hitter, retiring his final 18 batters in his 17th career complete game.

Ivan Rodriguez homered and Oswalt (4-4) helped himself with two hits. The right-hander improved to 10-2 with a 2.68 ERA against the Padres in 15 career appearances, including 13 starts.

At Milwaukee, Casey McGehee hit his first career grand slam and J.J. Hardy tied a career high with four hits, including a homer, for the Brewers.

Braden Looper (6-4) allowed seven hits and two walks in 6 1-3 innings for the win.

The Mets have lost four straight, falling under .500 (37-38) for the first time since May 5.

At Pittsburgh, Rich Harden (5-4) repeatedly worked out of trouble to win for the first time in more than six weeks and Ryan Theriot homered for Chicago.

The Cubs were 1-6 on a 10-game trip and 14-24 overall on the road before winning their eighth in their last 10 in Pittsburgh. They have won 20 of their last 25 games there.

At Miami, Ricky Nolasco (5-6) retired the final 13 batters he faced and Emilio Bonifacio drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth for Florida. Hanley Ramirez had three hits and an RBI for Florida, which snapped a three-game slide and is 7-0 against Washington this season.

Ryan Zimmerman hit his 13th homer for Washington, which wasted a stellar effort from left-hander Scott Olsen in his return from the disabled list.