Giants combine to 2-hit Cubs

Tim Lincecum probably didn't plan to use his start to reinforce the old adage of being "effectively wild," but one doesn't always plan on being where they end up. Lincecum spun five no-hit innings, striking out five and walking four before giving way to the bullpen thanks to an elevated pitch count. He probably did plan to finish what he started, especially if that happened to be a no-hitter, but one can't always do that, either.

George Kontos held the no-hitter for another inning and a third before the Giants turned to Jeremy Affeldt. Affeldt promptly walked the first hitter he faced (Justin Ruggiano) before surrendering the first hit of the afternoon to backup backstop John Baker, giving the Cubs the closest thing they'd get to a rally with two on and one out in the top of the seventh. The Giants would work out of the tight situation and maintain their slim 2-0 margin, before blowing the game open in the bottom of the seventh with three unearned runs. Juan Gutierrez was responsible for the only other hit allowed by the Giants' pitching staff, giving up a one-out single to Anthony Rizzo in the top of the eighth inning in his one and one third frames.

The win takes the the Giants to 34-19, maintaining their hold on the best record in the major leagues. While it's not clear whether the Cubs planned to use this season to reinforce their status as the Overlords of Fail, it certainly seems that way, and sometimes you end up exactly where you plan. The loss (beating, drubbing, etc.) drops them to 19-32, giving them the majors worst record even behind that of the much celebrated/maligned Houston Astros, who are fresh off a three-game sweep of the hapless Royals.