What's the best cure for a losing streak? Sending your ace to the mound, of course.
Just three days after the Giants wrapped up a sweep of the Oakland A's, Wednesday afternoon at China Basin they found themselves on the other side, as the Angels tried to break out the brooms.
Enter Tim Lincecum.
The reigning Cy Young Award winner was coming off a complete game shutout against the A's, and riding a six-game win streak. Exactly what the Giants needed to stop their skid at two games, right?
Wrong. With San Francisco leading, 3-1, in the top of the eighth inning, Lincecum returned to the mound. But instead of shutting down the Angels lineup, the Ace gave the lead right back. First Chone Figgins doubled in a run to cut the Giants' lead to one. Then Erick Aybar used an infield single to score Vlad Guerrero, and Juan Rivera followed that up with a fielder's choice that plated Figgins and gave the visitor's the lead.
The Giants were unable to muster a comeback, and the Angels earned the win, 4-3, completing the sweep at AT&T Park.
Lincecum took the loss--his first since April 12th--and fell to 6-2 on the season.
