Braves can do little against Lincecum

SAN FRANCISCO – Tim Lincecum pitched eight sharp innings to win for the first time in four starts, and the Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 4-0 Tuesday night. Aaron Rowand hit a two-run double in the second and Edgar Rentería singled in two runs moments later to stake Lincecum to an early lead that held up. The reigning National League Cy Young Award winner looked like the dominant pitcher he was in 2008, striking out eight and walking two. Lincecum (4-1) threw a season-high 122 pitches and won for the first time since beating the Cubs on May 5 in Chicago. He was coming off three consecutive no-decisions but quickly found his groove. He struck out eight or more for the fourth start in a row and the seventh time in his last eight outings. Bob Howry pitched a perfect ninth to finish the five-hit shutout for the Giants, who won back-to-back games for the first time since a three-game winning streak May 10-12. It was San Francisco's sixth shutout and the fifth ...