SF Giants history: Tim Lincecum's forgotten nightmare start to World Series

It was October 27, 2010. The SF Giants were playing in their first World Series game since 2002. They had their ace, two-time reigning NL Cy Young pitcher on the mound. And they were about to get swept.

At least that is how it felt just minutes into Game 1 of the 2010 World Series as Tim Lincecum got off to a nightmare start in the first inning against the Texas Rangers.

SF Giants history: Tim Lincecum's nightmare start to the 2010 World Series

There was so much excitement in the city of San Francisco as the Giants were still trying to win their first World Series since moving to the west coast. Game 1 seemed set up for a pitcher's duel between Lincecum and Cliff Lee but it became anything but that.

In the top of the first, Lincecum gave up a single into left field to the leadoff hitter. Then he walked the second batter. Then the mighty Josh Hamilton grounded out softly to first base which advanced the runners to second and third.

Vladimir Guerrerro Sr. hit a ground ball up the middle that ricocheted off Lincecum and scored the runner from third. Then, Lincecum lost his mind for a second.

Nelson Cruz hit a soft ground ball down the third base line and the runner on third got too far off the bag as Lincecum fielded the ball and ran him back towards third but he never threw the ball. Had he simply tossed it to third baseman Juan Uribe they would have had an easy out thanks to a base running miscue and would have nearly been out of the inning.

Instead, the bases were loaded with one out and Lincecum's brain fart seemed like it was going to cost the Giants in a major way. Thankfully, the next batter hit a ground ball to Uribe that resulted in a double play which allowed Lincecum to get out of the inning having only surrendered the one run.

Lincecum allowed another run in the second inning but calmed things down until he gave up a few more runs in the sixth and was removed from the game having allowed four earned runs in 5 and 2/3 innings.

Even though it was an uncharacteristic start for the Giants ace, it was an even more uncharacteristic night for a Giants offense that struggled to score runs all year. They scored seven runs off Cliff Lee and put up 11 runs on the night to give the Giants the victory.

It is easy to remember Brian Wilson striking out Cruz to end it in Game 5 or Lincecum's masterful start in that game, but it is easy to forget that things got off to a really shaky start in that World Series. All was well in the end though as the Giants won their first World Series since moving to San Francisco thanks to an unlikely band of misfits.