Baggs' Instant Replay: Diamondbacks 7, Giants 2

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SAN FRANCISCOIt really didnt matter if the Giants lost Tuesday night. Only that they didnt look bad doing it.WellThe Giants didnt exactly follow manager Bruce Bochys pregame credo to play the game the way its supposed to be played. Tim Lincecum had little notion where his pitches were going, but Paul Goldschmidt did. The Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman feasts on them like Popeye on canned spinach, rocking Lincecum for a three-run home run in the third inning as the Giants lost 7-2 at AT&T Park.The Giants have lost consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 4-5, when the Diamondbacks beat them twice at AT&T Park.Starting pitching reportIf the home faithful see Lincecum pitch again at China Basin in 2012, itll be in the postseason. And they have to hope the playoff pressure will light a fire under him. He didnt record an out in the fourth inning while giving up seven earned runs. He took his 15th loss for the first time in his career.And his ERA is back to 5.15which ranks dead last among the 47 NL starting pitchers with enough innings to qualify for the ERA title.Lincecum (10-15) was plenty deep even before Goldschmidt hit his fifth home run in just 14 career at-bats against him. The right-hander struggled in the first inning, when Arizona loaded the bases on a leadoff walk and two singlesthe second of which struck Lincecum on the back with a glancing impact. Goldschmidt hit a deep sacrifice fly and another run scored when catcher Hector Sanchez let a wild pitch sneak between his legs.Aaron Hill led off with a single in the third and Lincecum issued a one-out walk to Miguel Montero before Goldschmidt stepped in the box again. With Sanchez calling for an 0-1 slider down in the zone, Lincecum missed up and inthe one place on a foggy night where Goldschmidt had a chance to park one. The powerful first baseman almost seemed to swing with his chest as he muscled the ball off the left field pole.Against all other pitchers, Goldschmidt owns 22 home runs in 634 career at-bats. He has five in 14 at-bats against Lincecum. Thats more than Lincecum has surrendered to any other opposing hitter; Ryan Howard is next with four. Seth Smith has three and nobody else has hit more than two against him.Lincecum threw 77 pitches and was operating with two extra days of rest, but Bochy had seen enough after Aaron Hill singled for a third time and Upton walked to start the fifth. There was no way Bochy would let Lincecum face Goldschmidt one more time.Bullpen reportFive relievers combined to hold Arizona to one hit and one walk over five shutout innings. Dan Runzler allowed one of Lincecums inherited runners to score on another Goldschmidt sacrifice fly, but he also struck out two.Brad Penny was impressive while striking out two in his scoreless inning.At the plateMarco Scutaro hit a leadoff double in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to 13 games and Buster Posey doubled off the third base bag to give him 99 RBIs this season. With one more, hell become the first Giant to drive in 100 since Barry Bonds in 2004.The Giants came up with a couple of pinch hits in the ninth, when Xavier Nady singled and showed his hamstring was sound while scoring from first base on Ryan Theriots double.In fieldFlip on those space heaters in the dugout and bundle up. The fog is back and it feels almost time for postseason baseball.AttendanceThe Giants announced 41,153 paid. The sellout streak is impervious to your clinching celebrations.Up nextThe Giants continue their final regular-season home series on Wednesday. Matt Cain (15-5, 2.86) is scheduled to oppose left-hander Wade Miley (16-10, 3.25).

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