Remembering Tim Lincecum and the Good Times: His Best Performances

#3: November 1st, 2010

Everything that Lincecum had done up to this point in his career, the Cy Youngs, the shutouts, the dozen-strikeout games, led to this moment. On the first day of November in 2010, with the Giants leading the Texas Rangers three games to one in the World Series, Lincecum was the starter as the Giants tried to clinch their first World Series in San Francisco, and first as a franchise since 1954.

Lincecum was opposed by the Rangers’ Cliff Lee, a former Cy Young winner himself, and one of the best lefties in baseball. Lee pitched well, giving up three runs on six hits in seven innings, but he was no match for Lincecum.

The long-haired wunderkind went eight innings, and allowed just three hits and one run, and struck out 10. The only run came courtesy of Nelson Cruz‘s home run, but other than that, Lincecum was the story of the night. With the entire world watching, and the hopes and dreams of every Giants’ fan on his shoulders, he responded in the best possible way before handing the ball to closer Brian Wilson, who would close it out and clinch the whole thing.

All those individual accolades, awards, and records look nice, but hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy is what every ballplayer dons a uniform for. To be the pitcher who is the clincher just makes it that much better.

Next: The Sequel