Posey slams, adds HR to lift Lincecum, Giants

[July 08, 2010]  MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Rookie Buster Posey hit two homers, including his first career grand slam, and Tim Lincecum struck out 10 Wednesday night to lead the San Francisco Giants over the Milwaukee Brewers 15-2.

Posey drove in six runs, going 4 for 4 and scoring three times. He capped a seven-run fourth inning with his slam.

Andres Torres, Aubrey Huff and Posey all homered in the first -- 1999 was the last time the Giants connected three times in the opening inning.

Lincecum (9-4) needed only a fraction of the support. The two-time reigning NL Cy Young Award winner scattered four hits in seven innings.

Lincecum had lost his previous two starts. He avoided dropping three starts in a row for the first time in his four-year career.

The Giants are a win away from completing a four-game sweep on Thursday after coming into this series as losers of eight of nine. San Francisco has outscored the Brewers 27-4 in the first three games and every player in its starting lineup had a hit Wednesday night.

It was Milwaukee's fourth straight loss, and came at a time when the club is trying to decide its role in the trade market.

Lincecum, the first Giants pitcher with three straight All-Star selections since Juan Marichal, had lost consecutive starts five times in his career. Staked a 4-0 lead when he took the mound, he stayed aggressive and kept the Brewers guessing for his 49th career win.

Torres led off the game with a homer and Huff made it 2-0 against Chris Narveson (7-6) with a second-deck shot. Posey's two-run homer made it 4-0.

Posey moved from his usual catcher's spot to first base a day after being hit by a pitch on the left knee. He has 13 hits in his last 25 at-bats, and saved his biggest shot for the fourth.

Narveson's throwing error on a bunt by Lincecum helped the Giants loaded the bases and Freddy Sanchez tripled to make it 7-1. Narveson walked two more to load the bases again and Posey homered off reliever Chris Capuano.

Edgar Renteria, who'd been hitless in 16 at-bats before two fourth-inning singles, drove in a run in the sixth. Torres doubled in two more in the inning to make it 15-1.

Rickie Weeks homered off Lincecum in third.

NOTES: The Brewers have one hit in their last 27 at-bats with runners in scoring position. According to STATS, the Giants last hit three homers in the first inning on Aug. 22, 1999, also against the Brewers. ... The Brewers announced they'll replace Miller Park's scoreboard next season with the third-largest display in baseball behind ones in Phoenix and Kansas City.

[Associated Press; By COLIN FLY]

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