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  Tim Lincecum did throw his second consecutive complete game, but this time in a nail-biter loss to the Diamondbacks, falling to an incredible 17-4 record.  Lincecum pitched well, but a defensive miscue by infielder Eugenio Velez, who was playing left field misplayed a routine long drive fly ball that ended up being a two-run scoring triple by Justin Upton that ended up being the difference in a 3-2 game.  Lincecum clearly looked frustrated by that play and didn’t have his best stuff but pitched effectively in giving up only 3 runs in 8 complete innings and had 6 strikeouts to no walks.  The night before Brandon Webb pitched effectively well in giving up 3 runs in a 7-6 D-Backs win to pick up his 21st victory.  So the Cy Young race heated up with about a week or so left in the season. It clearly is going to come down to the wire for the Cy Young in the National League. Lincecum has one or two more starts left and Webb has one or two more starts left.  Regardless, both have pitched well for their teams and have been the aces of their squads with Webb getting more help from his bullpen and defense than Lincecum has all season.  To me, Lincecum clearly is still the Cy Young.  He is 17-4 on a 4th-place lowly Giants team and leads the NL in E.R.A (2.46) and the majors in strikeouts (243).  He also ranks in the top in innings pitched and has two complete games to add to his resume.  If he finishes strong in his last start and picks up his 18th victory regardless of what Webb does, I think he is and deserves the Cy Young award. Webb has 21 wins, but has 7 losses and Lincecum has had 5 blown wins for him by the bullpen in the late innings.  So he should be right up there in wins with Webb. We’ll see what the voters decide to do.  Anyways, Giants are coming off getting swept by the D-Backs and have a chance to make the NL West more interesting as they take on the rival Dodgers tonight in Los Angeles.  Barry Zito takes the ball for the Giants and searches for his 10th victory. 

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