Fil-Am Tim Lincecum pitches San Francisco Giants past San Diego Padres

SAN DIEGO -- The Giants cast a series of smooth stones at San Diego Padres ace Mat Latos while taking a 6-1 victory Sunday, but they didn't celebrate the final out or strut out of Petco Park like heroes of antiquity.
Instead, the NL West co-leaders wheeled their carry-on bags, Tim Lincecum affixed his red bow tie -- insisting no, he's not sucking up to owner Bill Neukom -- and they walked out like businessmen coming home after a successful trip.
"I guess that's the way guys are on this team," said rookie catcher Buster Posey, whose two-run homer broke Latos' spell in the first inning. "We've got 18 games left. You've just gotta keep your nose down and keep working."

Tim Lincecum

They know there's more business ahead. And with 11/2 games separating three teams in baseball's tightest division, they haven't achieved anything yet.
But they've got plenty to feel good about after a 7-3 trip that included series victories at Dodger Stadium, Arizona's Chase Field and a three-out-of-four spanking in San Diego.
"The confidence is at an all-time high right now, at least for me this season," said Lincecum, who won his third consecutive start while striking out nine in seven innings. "You go out there and you hit around Latos like we did, especially when we haven't been able to do much, was huge. Scoring two runs off their ace is big. That set the pace."
Posey drove the pace car, hitting a shot that nestled into the porch in the right-field
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corner -- the same spot where Padres catcher Yorvit Torrealba's homer landed in the Giants' 1-0 loss Saturday.
The lineup kept up the pressure while beating Latos for the first time. Lincecum added to it in the fourth inning, nearly slapping a pitch out of Torrealba's glove while sneaking a two-run single inside the third-base line.
Latos had been 2-0 with a 0.96 ERA in four starts against the Giants; the blond beast entered with a streak of 15 consecutive starts allowing two runs or less, a major league record.
But Posey's home run shook him early, and the Giants took advantage of his mistakes.
"With a guy like that, you've gotta get him early," Posey said. "The last thing you want is for him to get in a groove."
The Giants moved back into a virtual tie with the Padres. But within their ranks, the biggest perceived threat is in Colorado, where the Rockies have won 10 consecutive to get within 11/2 games of the co-leaders.
While the Giants rest for the first of three consecutive Mondays off, the Padres must try to regroup in the worst possible place -- at Coors Field, where they begin a three-game series.
Should Giants fans root for the Padres or the Rockies?
"You don't," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "This thing looks like it's going to the wire, and (Colorado) is on one of those rolls. Right now, we've just got to worry about what we control, and that's how we play."
The Giants controlled every aspect of their 81st victory. Lincecum touched 95 mph while throwing fastballs to the bottom of the strike zone, something he'd struggled to do in a miserable August. Lincecum also leaned on a slider that he modified while playing catch with Matt Cain between starts.
"Best my slider has ever been," Lincecum said. "The depth on it was much better today. It's not the slurve it used to be. ... Take that extra loop out of it and make it look more like a fastball. I benefited from that today."
The Giants delivered one more message in the eighth inning, when Pablo Sandoval channeled his inner nose guard and pancaked Torrealba at the plate while trying to score from second base on Juan Uribe's single.
It was a questionable decision in a 6-1 game, but Torrealba, who hung onto the ball, did not take offense. After getting to his feet, the Padres' emotional catcher gave Sandoval a supportive swat on the behind.
"He had no room to go," Bochy said. "That's part of the game. He was trying to jar the ball loose. That's part of baseball."
The Giants are watching Sandoval's weight, but he might have earned himself a steak dinner. Players and coaches didn't like the way Torrealba jockeyed the umpires for calls Saturday, or his belly bump with closer Heath Bell after the final out.
The Giants were more business-casual after Sunday's win.
"In here, there's no change," right-hander Sergio Romo said. "We really believe we're good. We had a goal in spring training to make the playoffs, and we're in position for a push."