Padres Hit Rock Bottom, No-hit By Lincecum

Jun 25, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Video board displaying the no-hitter pitching line for San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park. The San Francisco Giants defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

This scene is familiar.

Looking to sweep a three-game series with the Giants, the Padres came out to AT&T Park on Wednesday afternoon and got thoroughly dominated by Tim Lincecum. The right-hander had complete control of the plate, and struck out six Padres en route to no-hitting San Diego. Again. Lincecum joins Hall of Famer Addie Joss as the only pitchers to no-hit the same team twice.

Lincecum’s outing on Wednesday was much different than his July 13th outing in 2013, where he threw 148 pitches in a dazzling effort. No, on Wednesday Lincecum was much, much better. Lincecum only threw 113 pitches, with 73 of them going for strikes.

San Diego’s only baserunner came courtesy of a second-inning walk. Lincecum gave Chase Headley a free pass, but retired the next 23 Padres to complete the no-hitter.

Lost in the no-hit shuffle, Padres’ starter Ian Kennedy had a strong outing. The righty allowed nine hits, and four runs in his 9th loss, but he kept the Padres in the game.

Lincecum was the star of the game for his pitching, but his bat was dangerous as well. Entering the game hitting at a .045 clip, Lincecum connected on a single to open the third inning and scored on Pablo Sandoval‘s double. He also lead off the seventh with a single, and he and Hunter Pence scored on Buster Posey‘s double off of Tim Stauffer.

Even after getting no-hit, the Padres win the series with the Giants 2-1, and return to Petco Park on Friday to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks, the only team below San Diego in the NL West.