Cubs No Match For Giants Pitching In 5-2 Loss

CHICAGO (AP) — Tim Lincecum pitched four-hit ball into the seventh inning and Xavier Nady had a three-run double in his first game of the season, helping the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Saturday.

Lincecum (8-14) allowed two runs on David DeJesus' seventh homer and struck out seven over 6 1-3 innings in a solid effort on a breezy day at Wrigley Field.

Nady, promoted from Triple-A Fresno when major league rosters expanded Saturday, hit a bases-loaded smash past third and into the left-field corner to give San Francisco a 4-0 lead in the first.

Chicago starter Justin Germano retired the first two batters of the game, but yielded singles to Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey, walked Hunter Pence and hit Hector Sanchez with a pitch to force in the first run before Nady delivered.

San Francisco made it 5-0 in the second on Angel Pagan's triple and Marco Scutaro's sacrifice fly.

Lincecum, whose run support had been two runs or less in 16 of his previous 27 starts, surrendered DeJesus' drive to right in the third. He left to a big ovation from a sizeable Giants contingent after walking Wellington Castillo in the seventh.

Sergio Romo, the fourth Giants reliever of the day, pitched the ninth for his ninth save in 10 chances.

Germano (2-5) allowed six hits in five innings while throwing 93 pitches.

NOTES: The Cubs recalled OFs Tony Campana and Dave Sappelt and INF Adrian Cardenas from Triple-A Iowa. Manager Dale Sveum said callups will be used periodically but when the Cubs are playing first-place teams, he'll stick with his core lineup. He said despite Chicago's record, everybody on the roster should be trying to leave an impression for jobs next year. ... The Giants are hoping Nady can help fill the void in LF following Melky Cabrera's suspension, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Gregor Blanco (19 strikeouts in his previous 41 at-bats) has been struggling at the plate. "(Blanco) is not seeing the ball well. His timing is off at the plate," Bochy said, also acknowledging Blanco is San Francisco's best defensive outfielder. Blanco entered Saturday's game in the sixth. ... DeJesus made a nice sliding catch to retire Buster Posey in the fifth. ... Announced attendance was 32,477.

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