D-backs shut down by Lincecum, Giants in 1-0 loss

D-backs shut down by Lincecum, Giants in 1-0 loss

Published Aug. 30, 2013 10:31 p.m. ET

PHOENIX (AP) -- At hitter-friendly Chase Field, 1-0 games are fairly rare. Losing one was tough to swallow for Randall Delgado and the Diamondbacks.

Tim Lincecum pitched six spotless innings and third baseman Pablo Sandoval made a diving play to save the Giants, who pushed across a run in the first and made it stand up Friday night.

Angel Pagan doubled and scored in his first game back from a long stint on the disabled list. Three relievers closed it out for the Giants, who handed Delgado a hard-luck loss and won for the 10th time in their last 12 games at Chase Field.

"He threw like Randall can throw. Great control, had them off-balance, and his location was pretty (darn) good," manager Kirk Gibson said. "He certainly pitched good enough to win. You've got to win them."

The Diamondbacks dropped to 1-2 in 1-0 games at home this season.

Arizona had an excellent chance against Lincecum in the sixth. The Diamondbacks loaded the bases, and A.J. Pollock hit a sharp grounder past third that appeared headed for the left-field corner. Sandoval had it played just right, though. He backhanded the ball as he hit the ground, got to his feet and threw to first for the third out.

"Panda made a good play on Pollock," Gibson said. "If you want to win those games, you have to have better at-bats. That's all there is to it."

Lincecum (8-13) allowed six hits and two walks while striking out two.

Javier Lopez pitched the seventh, Santiago Casilla worked the eighth and Sergio Romo got three outs for his 33rd save.

Romo has a 20-inning scoreless streak at Chase Field, and his 23 consecutive scoreless appearances there mark the longest such streak for any visiting pitcher at any ballpark dating to 1921, according to STATS.

Delgado (4-5) gave up only three hits over seven innings.

"I was pounding the zone," he said. "I had some bad pitches in the first inning. They got the run in the first inning. I couldn't control that. But I felt good."

Unable to give Delgado any offensive support, the second-place Diamondbacks fell 10 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and six games behind the Reds for the second NL wild-card spot.

"I was thinking going deep into the game. After that there are some things you can't control," Delgado said.

Pagan, who scored on Brandon Belt's sacrifice fly, was reinstated from the 60-day DL before the game after missing 82 games with a left hamstring injury.

"All that work we put in, all these weeks, it paid off," Pagan said. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long. I'm so happy to be back with the guys and help them any way I can."

NOTES: Three days after designating OF Jason Kubel for assignment, the Diamondbacks traded him to the Indians for a player to be named or cash. ... The D-backs will hold their second annual alumni game following Saturday night's game against the Giants. Players returning include Luis Gonzalez, Erubiel Durazo, Reggie Sanders, Mark Grace, Greg Swindell and Brandon Webb. ... To make room for Pagan, the Giants optioned OF Francisco Peguero to Triple-A Fresno and transferred OF Andres Torres from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. ... Play was held up briefly so groundskeepers could work on the mound before Lincecum delivered a pitch in the sixth.

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