ATLANTA – Mike Minor knew he couldn’t afford any big mistakes going against two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.
Instead, it was Lincecum who cracked.
Minor pitched six crisp innings and Chipper Jones homered off Lincecum for the only run, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 1-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
“He’s obviously the better pitcher,” Minor said. “It’s a big win.”
The left-handed Minor pitched brilliantly, allowing just four hits and one intentional walk while striking out a season-high nine. Only two runners got as far as second base against Minor (3-2), who didn’t flinch when Cody Ross led off the game with a double.
“Instead of giving in, I tried to bear down,” Minor said. “I knew if he scored, that would be a big run.”
Lincecum (11-10) was no slouch, surrendering five hits in seven innings with seven strikeouts. But the wiry right-hander made one pitch he wanted back, serving up a high fastball to Jones leading off the fifth. Jones sent a drive soaring into the right-field seats for his 11th homer, giving the Braves all the offense they needed and leaving the Giants 21/2 games behind Arizona in the NL West.
“You know you’re not going to hit too many homers off Lincecum,” Jones said. “He made one mistake, and that’s all we needed.”
Lincecum was trying to go inside with the pitch, but it faded back over the plate.
“Chipper’s a great hitter,” the Giants starter said. “I gave up that one timely home run. That cost me.”
Eric O’Flaherty, Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel closed out the five-hitter with one inning apiece for the Braves. Kimbrel struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 37th save in 42 chances, breaking a tie with Todd Worrell for the most saves by an NL rookie since 1969.
Worrell had 36 saves for the St. Louis Cardinals in 1986. Kimbrel is closing in on the major league mark for rookies, set last season by Texas closer Neftali Feliz with 40.
Kimbrel has not allowed a run in his last 28 appearances.
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