"Major-league records are easy to check. A few taps of the keyboard revealed that Tim Lincecum had not lost a 1-0 game in the majors before the Dodgers got him Wednesday. Lincecum had to think hard when asked if he took a 1-0 loss in college or high school. He could not remember one.

This one could have been predicted. Pablo Sandoval was out with a quad injury. Newest Giant Jeff Keppinger was supposed to start at second base but had a flight delay from Houston. Miguel Tejada, whose bat had been simmering, was on the disabled list. The lineup card filled out by manager Bruce Bochy was not particularly scary.

Oh, and the Giants were facing Clayton Kershaw, one of the filthiest left-handers in the game.

"You knew it was going to be a close game, a tough game," Lincecum said. "I flinched first."

His flinch was a seventh-inning fastball to Dodgers catcher Dioner Navarro that was supposed to be down and away. Lincecum threw it over the plate and it wound up in the hands of a kayaker in McCovey Cove, the first splash home run by a visitor this year.

"Just a mistake," Lincecum said. "Late in the game, a crucial game, that's not what I'm supposed to be doing."

Lincecum should not beat himself up. He was fantastic. Kershaw was just more fantastic against a depleted lineup, striking out a season-high 12 and demonstrating why Bochy used him for an inning in the All-Star Game."