Ian Kennedy ended a career-long losing streak with a career-long outing Wednesday while keeping San Francisco two-time NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum in his personal funk.
Neither staff ace had won in May until Kennedy ran his winning streak over the Giants to five games in the Diamondbacks' 4-1 victory at AT&T Park, which included Paul Goldschmidt's tie-breaking, bases-empty home run in the sixth inning. It was Goldschmidt's fourth home run in 13 career at-bats against Lincecum.
Kennedy threw 122 pitches, six more than his previous high in 87 major league starts, before leaving with two outs in the eighth. Kennedy, 21-4 last season, had not won since April 22 and had struggled in May, giving up 20 earned runs in 30 innings in losing his previous five starts.
Kennedy (4-5) also beat Lincecum (2-6) on Opening Day, 5-4. Lincecum, who has not won since April 28, has lost his last five decisions against the D-backs.
"It was just a great performance from Ian," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said. "We had some (bullpen) guys down. He felt fine, and he was the best we had out there. He's going to get a sixth day" until his next start because of an off day Thursday.
Kennedy gave up one earned run in seven innings and was at his best late in the game. After walking the first two batters in the seventh inning, Kennedy bounced off the mound to force a runner at third base on an attempted sacrifice bunt attempt before striking out the Giants' 3-4 hitters, Melky Cabrera on a 3-2 fastball and Buster Posey on a 3-2 changeup.
"He had better command, more confidence and conviction with his pitches. He struck out their best two hitters" in the seventh, Gibson said.
Nursing a 2-1 lead, Kennedy struck out two more batters in the eighth after giving up a leadoff single to Angel Pagan.
NOTES, QUOTES
--1B Paul Goldschmidt's fourth career home run off Giants RHP Tim Lincecum came with two outs in the sixth inning, when he lined a curveball into the first row of the left-field bleachers to break a 1-1 tie. "I can't tell you," Goldschmidt said about why he handles Lincecum so well. "I'm lucky I've gotten into hitter's counts and he's made some mistakes. He's punched me out a few times, too."
--RHP David Hernandez recorded his first save of the season by getting four outs, the biggest a flyball to right field by C Buster Posey with two on to end the eighth inning with a 4-1 lead. It was his first save since Aug. 14, 2011. He had a career-high 11 saves in his first full season in the bullpen in 2011.
--LF Jason Kubel was placed on the paternity list Wednesday, when he returned to Phoenix to be with his wife, Blake, for the birth of their second child and first daughter. Kubel can miss between one and three days while on the list. He has a six-game hitting streak, during which he is 9 for 22 with two doubles, a triple, a home run and five RBI.
--OF A.J. Pollock was recalled from Class AAA Reno on Wednesday to take Kubel's place on the roster. It is the rookie's second stint with the team this year -- he hit .229 with a home run and four RBI in 48 at-bats from April 18 to May 18, when he was promoted while Chris Young was on the disabled list. Pollock was 10 for his last 30 with two doubles and a homer in his previous stay.
--The D-backs won only two of their 10 series in May, taking two of three games in Kansas City on May 18-20 and two of three from Milwaukee at home May 25-27. They also split two-game series with Colorado and the Los Angeles Dodgers. After sweeping San Francisco on the opening weekend, the D-backs have dropped the next two series between the two.
BY THE NUMBERS: .538 -- 1B Paul Goldschmidt's career batting average against Giants RHP Tim Lincecum in his 13 career at-bats.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "He had better command, more confidence and conviction with his pitches." -- D-backs manager Gibson after on Kennedy's fifth straight victory over the Giants.
