NL | Flexible Tim Lincecum goes to the stretch to disable Atlanta

Saved by the stretch.

Giants ace Tim Lincecum struck out 10 and allowed three hits to help San Francisco beat the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Sunday.

Despite the impressive numbers, Lincecum said he was struggling to throw strikes "in just about every inning" and decided to pitch from the stretch starting in the sixth.

"I had to make an adjustment," said Lincecum. "I felt a little more comfortable going from the stretch. Less moving parts. It's easier to get toward the target, and that helped me out."

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy was impressed.

"Those first two innings he was out of sync, walking the leadoff hitter," Bochy said of his 24-year-old right-hander from the University of Washington. "But that's what you like about the kid. He adjusted. He did his job."

Lincecum (13-3) lowered his road earned-run average to 1.88, best in the majors, and the Giants improved to 9-1 in his 13 starts and one relief appearance away from home.

Lincecum showed no bad effects after taking a line drive off his knee in his previous start, on Tuesday. He had a fluid delivery and lost none of his velocity, which was still around 95 mph in the eighth. Five of his 10 strikeouts came with runners in scoring position.

Arizona: LHP Randy Johnson, trying for his 295th career victory, lost for the first time in seven career starts against Houston.

Atlanta: OF Jeff Francoeur's average with the bases loaded dropped to .120 in 25 at-bats this season.

Chicago: The Cubs' win over Florida was their 36th come-from-behind victory this season.

Cincinnati: Rookie OF Chris Dickerson singled in the first inning, ending his extra-base streak. His first six hits in the majors were for extra bases — four doubles, a triple and a homer.

Colorado: OF Willy Taveras had two more steals, his career-best fifth straight game with a swipe. He leads the majors with 58 stolen bases.

Houston: Craig Biggio became the ninth former Astro to have his number retired, joining Jim Umbricht, Don Wilson, Jose Cruz, Mike Scott, Nolan Ryan, Larry Dierker, Jimmy Wynn and Jeff Bagwell.

Los Angeles: OF Manny Ramirez is 25 for 59 (.424) with six homers and 21 RBI in 16 games since his bitter split with the Red Sox.

Milwaukee: OF Ryan Braun, who leads the Brewers with a .301 average, 31 homers and 86 RBI, returned to the starting lineup. He missed six games with tightness in his lower back.

New York: The Mets, trying to find help for their struggling bullpen, acquired right-hander Luis Ayala (1-8, 5.77 ERA) from Washington for a player to be named.

Pittsburgh: GM Neal Huntington said LHP Zach Duke will remain in the rotation despite his 0-5 record and 7.97 ERA since the All-Star break.

San Francisco: OF Randy Winn is hitting .444 in 63 at-bats this month.

Washington: The Nationals' 10-game losing streak is the franchise's longest in 17 years. The Montreal Expos lost 11 straight in 1991.

Seattle Times news services