Tim Lincecum, Giants Look To Avoid Sweep

Reigning 2008 Cy Young award winner, Tim Lincecum, is all that stands between a sweep at the hands of Los Angeles Angels.

Or was it the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles...or...maybe it was LA Angels of Anaheim. I'm not sure they care what you call them as long as they keep homering.

The Angels have hit six home runs in the first two games of the series. LA has also smacked 31 hits.

The Giants have not been swept at home this season. In fact, San Francisco is among the best in the league at home with 21 wins.

Coming off a 7-4 road trip, the Giants swept their across-the-bay rivals Oakland in a three-game set. Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum both notched complete games with only one earned run given up between the two.

The Angels started the series with a 32-29 win/loss record. Despite having three pitchers injured, the Angels are holding their own. They are looking to catch Texas as the A's and Mariners continue to play sub-.500 ball.

On Monday, the Angels banged Barry Zito up and ran him out of the game in the fourth inning. Zito allowed hit after hit and gave up seven runs before being pulled. Even though the Giants rallied late, they were not able to catch the lofty Angels.

Last night, it was Jonathan Sanchez's turn to get lit up. Sanchez did not fair much better and was pulled after allowing six runs in three innings. Bobby Abreu and Maicer Izturis anchored the potent middle lineup of the Angels.

There would be no rally for San Francisco.

They fell to 8-1 against rookie RHP Sean O' Sullivan. O'Sullivan all but shutout the Giants. Upstart Nate Schieholtz broke up the shutout with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to score Bengie Molina.

The Giants will need everything Tim Lincecum can give them if they hope to calm the Angels' bats and avoid being swept at home.