Giants’ Tim Lincecum Gives Up 4 Hits, Retires 20 On, Uh, 4/20, In Defeat Of Padres

Apr 20, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum (55) leaves the game during the seventh inning while fans applaud his effort against the San Diego Padres at AT

One time San Francisco Giants ace and fan favorite Tim Lincecum hasn’t really ever hidden his desire for a recreational activity that can leave one in an altered state, usually looking for something to munch on. A traffic stop in 2009 which resulted in misdemeanor possession only enhanced the perception and if you walk about ten feet at a Giants game, you’re bound to come across at least three to four “Let Timmy Smoke” t-shirts.

So it only makes sense that Lincecum would find his way to the mound on April 20th, better known as “420” – or for you astronomy geeks, 4-20.

Lincecum looked much like the multiple time Cy Young winner Giant fans have grown accustom to as Tiny Tim struck out eight, giving up 4 hits and retiring 20 batters in his 6.2 innings of work en route to his second victory of the season. The win also dropped Lincecum’s ERA to 3.97 – a number that would look far more impressive if the MLB official scorers would’ve not declined the Giants’ appeal to have a handful of earned runs charged to Lincecum taken away and charged as unearned runs.

Either way, it was easily Lincecum’s best start of the season – something he and Giant fans can hopefully look forward to as The Freak will yet again be on the mound against the Padres this coming Friday.

The lone support Lincecum received last name came off of the bat of Pablo Sandoval as the hefty Panda took an Andrew Cashner pitch over the right field wall in the fourth inning, a homer that Sandoval almost appeared fooled on. It certainly wasn’t strong contact, but the ball had plenty of loft and it cleared the fence, giving the Giants a 2-0 lead which Lincecum and the Giants’ bullpen held for their 11th victory of the season.

Giants will go for the sweep this afternoon before welcoming Arizona for a three game set.