Giants hit 3 HRs to back Lincecum, beat Braves

Sunday, May 12, 2013

photo San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum (55) throws to the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, May 12, 2013.

SAN FRANCISCO - Pablo Sandoval splashed a home run into McCovey Cove, Brandon Belt and Marco Scutaro also connected to back Tim Lincecum, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Sunday to wrap up a strong homestand.

Lincecum (3-2) struck out seven in seven scoreless innings to end a three-start winless stretch in which he went 0-2. He also stopped a four-start skid against Atlanta, beating the Braves for the first time since April 11, 2010.

Belt hit a solo homer in the second, Sandoval connected in the third and Scutaro went deep leading off the fifth. Gregor Blanco had an RBI double.

Brandon Crawford added an RBI single in the fourth for the Giants, who wrapped up a 7-3 homestand. San Francisco won a home series against the NL East for the first time since April last year.

Sandoval's two-out drive in the third cleared the elevated right-field arcade and found the water, setting off a kayaking commotion in a frenzy to retrieve the souvenir ball.

It was the 63rd splash homer by the Giants - home run king Barry Bonds has 35 - seventh by the Kung Fu Panda and second for San Francisco this year. There have been 89 in the 14-season history of AT&T Park, including one by the Braves' Brian McCann on Friday night.

In just his third quality start in eight outings, Lincecum allowed a season-low two hits after being tagged for 19 over his previous two appearances. Giants closer Sergio Romo, San Francisco's fourth reliever, allowed an RBI double to pinch-hitter Evan Gattis for Atlanta's lone run.

The NL West-leading Giants make a quick, two-game stop starting Tuesday in Toronto, where former slugger Melky Cabrera will receive his World Series ring for contributions last season before his Aug. 15 50-game suspension for testosterone.

San Francisco then heads to Coors Field in Denver for four games against the Rockies.

"It's not going to be easy travel for these guys," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We get into Colorado late, but that's part of the schedule."

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez rejoined his team after two days away to attend daughter Gigi's college graduation in Georgia. But Atlanta lost its third straight since taking the opener Thursday night - outscored 23-4 over the final three games.

The Braves continue their 10-game trip at Arizona, where left fielder Justin Upton will face his former Diamondbacks teammates.

Kris Medlan (1-5) lost his fourth straight decision and saw his winless stretch reach six outings since his lone victory his first time out this year, April 4 against the Phillies.

The right-hander allowed five runs, three earned, walked a season-high five and struck out one in 5 1-3 innings.

Umpires went to review after Scutaro's fly ball in the sixth was interfered with by a fan, preventing a possible catch by left fielder Upton. It was ruled a double, giving Scutaro six straight multihit games during his 12-game hitting streak. NOTES: Lincecum went seven or more innings allowing two or fewer hits for the first time since Aug. 13, 2011, at the Marlins. ... Giants leadoff man Angel Pagan reached base safely for the 29th time in 35 games. He stole second in the first, then was caught to end the fourth - giving him five steals in eight chances. ... Bochy on all the pink bats, sleeves, cleats, wristbands for breast cancer awareness on Mother's Day: "It's a great day for all of us to have a chance to honor our mothers, and really for me to reflect back and realize how blessed I was to have such a great mother, not just in raising me but she was a big part of my baseball life with my father being in the service," he said. His mother, Melrose, died in March 2007. ... Braves leadoff man Jordan Schafer stole his sixth base. ... Bochy hadn't decided on his designated hitter for the two games vs. the Blue Jays.