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Lincecum tosses seven innings of two-run ball

While Tim Lincecum hasn't been his usual dominant self this season, one thing has still remained constant -- he's dominated the Padres.

In two starts against the Padres this season, the Giants right-hander is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA, striking out 13 in 14 innings pitched.

Making his 21st appearance against the Padres -- his most against any club -- Lincecum will hope for some of that same magic on Wednesday in San Francisco as the Giants go for a three-game sweep.

Lincecum had one of his best starts of the season on Friday, limiting the Phillies to two runs on five hits in seven innings to improve to 4-10 with a 5.72 ERA.

Getting his first win on the road since April 23, Lincecum felt his success could be traced back to his fastball command.

"If it weren't for my fastball command, those guys might have been sitting on my offspeed and crushing them," Lincecum said after the game. "I'm not saying by any means that I'm back. I'm just trying to get back to that consistency and use it as my springboard."

Meanwhile, Jason Marquis will be on the hill for the Padres, looking for his third straight win.

Marquis' first start for the Padres, on June 7, was against the Giants, and he gave up two earned runs in six innings for the loss.

Allowing three earned runs or fewer in his last three outings, the right-hander surrendered five runs (three earned) on nine hits in five innings against the Rockies on Friday.

Padres: Amarista OK after injuring thumb
Alexi Amarista, who left Monday's 7-1 loss to the Giants with a jammed left thumb, was not in the starting lineup on Tuesday. However, his thumb felt well enough that it didn't require an MRI.

Amarista hurt his thumb sliding headfirst while stealing second base in the fifth inning. He injured the thumb when his left hand first hit the ground.

"He's doing fine. ... We think we dodged a bullet there," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He's doing much better."

Giants: Panda injured at first base
Trying to help regular starters first baseman Brandon Belt and right fielder Gregor Blanco break out of their slumps, Giants manager Bruce Bochy shifted Pablo Sandoval from third base to first and started Nate Schierholtz at right field for the second straight night on Tuesday.

However, Sandoval had to leave the game in the third inning after injuring his left hamstring while stretching to complete a double play at first base.

Worth noting
• The Padres announced their rotation for the three-game series in Miami beginning Friday. Kip Wells will start the opener, Ross Ohlendorf on Saturday and Clayton Richard on Sunday.

• Giants catcher Buster Posey is batting .467 (21-for-45) with five doubles, three home runs and 17 RBIs in his past 12 games.

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