Giants starter Tim Lincecum is three outs away from his second career no-hitter, leading the Padres 4-0 after eight innings on Wednesday afternoon at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
Lincecum has five strikeouts through eight innings. The only runner the right-hander has allowed to reach base was Chase Headley, who walked with one out in the second inning. Lincecum has retired 20 straight batters since.
In the eighth inning, Lincecum got Chase Headley to ground out to first base, Tommy Medica to pop out to first, and Alexi Amarista to fly out to center field to end the inning.
Lincecum's first no-hitter was also against the Padres. The right-hander struck out 13 and walked four in a no-hitter at Petco Park in San Diego on July 13, 2013, throwing a whopping 148 pitches to do so.
On Wednesday afternoon against the Padres Lincecum has been much more economical with 96 pitches through eight innings. He also singled in the seventh inning and scored a run.
Lincecum in the ninth inning will face catcher Rene Rivera, the pitcher's spot, and center fielder Will Venable.