You Can't Win.....If You Can't Score

Poor Braves.......

Last night.......2 hits.....no runs....2 errors.....

And a loss.

Lincecum Pitches Complete-Game Shutout, Giants Take 1-0 Series ...

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Photo by Zimbio  Just one day after Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Roy Halladay tossed the second no-hitter in MLB postseason history, San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum posted a complete-game shutout, surrendering just two hits and one walk, to carry his team to a 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the NLDS.

Neither Halladay nor Lincecum had ever pitched in the playoffs coming into their outings on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. However, the Cy Young candidates put forth two of the most dominant postseason pitching performances of recent times in consecutive days.

Against the Braves Thursday night, Lincecum struck out 14 batters and 75 of his 119 pitches were strikes. Giants first baseman Nate Schierholtz addressed the pitcher’s performance, telling the SF Chronicle, “His ball was invisible, and they were swinging right through it. It makes it a little easier on defense knowing he’s rolling through their lineup.”

With his complete-game shutout of the Atlanta Braves, Lincecum became the first pitcher to win a 1-0 postseason game when allowing two hits or less since the great Vida Blue achieved the feat in the 1974 ALCS as a member of the Oakland Athletics. According to Sports Illustrated, Blue and Lincecum are the only pitchers to accomplish the remarkable feat in the past 60 years.