Major League Baseball

San Francisco Giants update: Ace Tim Lincecum already looking ahead toward next start

Published Oct. 10, 2010 10:11 p.m. ET

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Lincecum already looking ahead to next start

Nearly 24 hours after one of the greatest pitching performances in postseason history, Tim Lincecum was still trying to gain perspective on what he did in Game 1 against the Atlanta Braves.

But mostly, he was thinking ahead to his next start -- whether it be Game 4 on Monday, Game 5 on Wednesday or in the NL Championship Series if the Giants advance.

"If I have to face these guys again, I kind of have an idea how to attack them," said Lincecum, who struck out 14 while throwing a two-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory Thursday. "And if that's the case, if they need me (Monday), I've just got to push it and get myself ready."

Lincecum generated 31 swings and misses Thursday night -- the most by far by a major league pitcher this season. Toronto's Brandon Morrow was next with 25 missed swings in a May 5 start against the Cleveland Indians, according to ESPN.

The Braves missed on 56.4 percent of their swings at Lincecum's pitches, the best rate of any start in his career. They didn't touch 80 percent of his changeups that generated swings.

Lincecum's 14 strikeouts were the third most in a shutout in major league postseason history, trailing only Bob Gibson (17) in 1968 and Roger Clemens (15) in 2000.

"Yeah, I heard that," Lincecum said. "You soak it up a little bit. You have a little appreciation, maybe a pat-yourself-on-the-(butt) kind of thing. But then you're getting ready for your next start."

Lincecum said there was a reason he reacted with just a quiet fist pump after striking our Derrek Lee to end the game.

"You know, it was almost like the game wasn't over for me," he said. "I was in that mentality where if another batter steps to the plate, I want to be ready for it.

''You could even see I was surprised to get the ball from Buster (Posey) when he threw it at me. It's been so long since I've thrown a complete game. I forgot all about that."

Lincecum said he received tons of messages but didn't talk to many people. His father and boyhood coach, Chris, was having more trouble processing the game than he did.

"It was one of those situations where he's got to pinch himself a little bit, I think," Tim Lincecum said. "It's hard for him to believe what's been going on this year and the last couple years. It takes a little perspective to teach him to be supportive and just be a fan."

A blubbering idiot?

"Yeah," Tim Lincecum said, smiling. "Yeah, he kind of was."

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he plans to use the same lineup for the entire series, although Freddy Sanchez's status was unclear after he was struck on the right hand by a pitch in the 10th inning. Sanchez went for X-rays after the game; results weren't immediately available.

Braves closer Billy Wagner strained the oblique muscle in his left side while trying to field Andres Torres' sacrifice bunt in the 10th inning and is "done for the series for sure," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.

Aubrey Huff said he'll continue to wear his red "Rally Thong" underwear for the remainder of the postseason. The Giants were 20-10 in the regular season after Huff began wearing the delicates -- exactly fulfilling his prediction.

"I'm wearing it right now, if you're interested," said Huff, shifting in his chair as he sat at a pregame interview podium. "Kinda get used to it, know what I'm saying?"

-- ANDREW BAGGARLY