SAN FRANCISCO -- If Tim Lincecum wants to win without an overpowering fastball, he knows he will have to find his way through games when he is nowhere near his best. Dolphins Store . And he was nowhere near his best Friday night. And yet, he still won. Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Hicks homered to back a wildly effective Lincecum, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Minnesota Twins 6-2. "He was bobbing and weaving out there the whole game," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. Lincecum (4-3) struck out four and walked six in six innings. He allowed five hits and also had two wild pitches, escaping trouble in nearly every inning. Only 57 of Lincecums 112 pitches were strikes. "Youve got to battle when you dont have your best stuff, your best command. And today was just that," Lincecum said. "Its kind of an ugly win, but Ill take it. Joe Mauer and Chris Parmelee drove in Minnesotas only runs in the third. Sandoval hit a three-run shot in the first, Hicks hit his eighth homer off Kyle Gibson (4-4) in the fourth and drove in another run on a flyout in the seventh. Gibson gave up five runs and five hits in five innings, working quickly and in command for most of his 72-pitch outing. He struck out four and walked none. "I really got beat on three pitches, which is the frustrating part," Gibson said. San Francisco opened its six-game homestand with some pop at the plate and slick manoeuvring on the mound. Hunter Pence extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an infield single after Angel Pagan doubled leading off the first. Pence was originally ruled out, Bochy challenged the call and umpires overturned it after a 33-second video review. Pagan was thrown out at home on Buster Poseys grounder, but not before third baseman Trevor Plouffes throw pulled Brian Dozier off second on what wouldve been an inning-ending double play. Then, Sandoval sent the first pitch he saw over the brick wall in right to put the Giants ahead 3-0. It was Sandovals fifth home run this season. "I just focused and tried to calm myself down a little bit more," Sandoval said. Mauer hit an RBI triple and Parmelee drove in another run for Minnesota in the third to slice San Franciscos lead to 3-2. In the bottom of the inning, Pagan tripled and scored for San Francisco after shortstop Eduardo Escobar couldnt corral Pences grounder. Despite his lack of command, Lincecum kept the Giants in control. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner, still searching for consistency as his fastball has faded in recent years, walked two and threw two wild pitches in the third without allowing a run. Sandoval fielded Gibsons grounder at third and threw out Escobar at the plate before Lincecum struck out Dozier to end the inning. In the fifth, Lincecum loaded the bases before getting Escobar to hit a weak groundout to first. Lincecums saved his smoothest inning for his final one, retiring the side in order before leaving to a standing ovation from the announced sellout crowd of 41,514. Left-hander Jeremy Affeldt tossed a scoreless seventh for the Giants. After Javier Lopez allowed two baserunners in the eighth, Jean Machi got pinch-hitter Josmil Pinto to ground into a double-play before pitching a perfect ninth for the save. "We were a little sloppy defensively and we missed plenty of opportunities to get some hits," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "A rough start for us here, and that team over there knows how to take advantage of you." NOTES: The Giants will wait until at least Saturday to decide if RHP Matt Cain, who strained his right hamstring Wednesday at Colorado, will make his next start Monday against the Chicago Cubs. Bochy said Cain "was bouncing around pretty good" in the clubhouse. ... Mauer and Posey, who have each won an MVP at catcher, both started at first base. ... Twins RHP Samuel Deduno (1-2, 3.53 ERA), originally slated to start Sunday, will take the mound on Saturday. Ricky Nolasco will pitch Sunday. ... Ryan Vogelsong (2-2, 3.62) goes for the Giants on Saturday and lefty Madison Bumgarner starts Sunday. Cheap Mike Gesicki Jersey . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Defensive Depth TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs have considerable interest in unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle. Cheap Quentin Poling Jersey . At least 90 players who had college eligibility remaining are expected to enter the draft, shattering last years record number of 73. "Its a humongous number, so the first reaction is it makes you step back a little bit," said NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. http://www.cheapdolphinsjerseyselite.com/ . This time, Tebow was in a groove the entire second half -- not just in the waning minutes -- and his teammates on defence were getting gobbled up.ATLANTA -- DeMarre Carroll shadowed Kobe Bryant from one end of the court to the other, leading Atlantas defensive effort that eventually wore down the Lakers and their star. Carrolls strong defence and Kyle Korvers three 3-pointers in Atlantas dominant third quarter led the Hawks past Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers 114-100 Monday night. Bryant, playing in only his fifth game since returning from a torn left Achilles tendon, made only 4 of 14 shots for eight points. Bryant said his left ankle "felt a little stiff on me." "The next level of progression is playing these games when you sit back out, get back in, is keeping it loose," Bryant said. "Its just a matter of time. You increase the activity, the ankle gets used to it a little more. "Ive just got to keep my eye on the big picture and focus on getting better." Bryant and the Lakers faded badly in the second half after leading at 54-47 at halftime. "Thats why I wanted to pick him up full-court, to get his legs tired," Carroll said. "His shots were falling short because his legs were tired." Al Horford had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead six Atlanta players in double figures. Paul Millsap had 18 points and Jeff Teague had 17 with 10 assists as the Hawks set season highs for points in a game and second half (67). Carroll had 13 points but took the most pride in his defence on Bryant, who struggled two days after scoring 21 points in a win at Charlotte. "I love it," Carroll said, adding his goal is to make the NBA all-defensive team. "Thats what they brought me here to do, play defence. ... Each year Im trying to make the defensive team because I think I can be one of the lock-down defenders." Nick Young led the Lakers with 23 points while making five 3-pointers. Jordan Hill had 21, Xavier Henry had 18 and Pau Gasol had 16, but no other Los Angeles player scored in double figures. The Lakers were outscored 35-19 in the third period. "I thought they came out much more aggressive, much more physical, every loose ball, every long rebound," Lakers coach Mike DAAntoni said. Cheap Dolphins Jerseys. "We just wilted. ... We didnt gut it out tonight." Korver scored all of his 11 points in the third period. "In the third quarter, I thought our aggressiveness and our intensity on the defensive end set the tone for a good second half," Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "Great intensity. Great aggressiveness and I think we played off of our defence. We moved the ball well. We found the open guy. Thats how we want to play." The intensity showed on the boards. The Lakers had a 28-17 advantage in rebounds in the first half. The Hawks flipped that advantage by winning the second-half battle 27-15. "In the second half, on both ends, we really attacked the boards," Budenholzer said. Bryant made his third straight start at point guard as the Lakers attempt to compensate for the loss of three injured point guards -- Steve Nash, Jordan Farmar and Steve Blake. The Lakers other starting guard, Jodie Meeks, made only 1 of 8 shots for 2 points. Bryant had six assists and five turnovers and appeared to lack his normal energy. "Thats going to happen," DAntoni said. "We have to do a better job of taking the burden off him." Korver and the Hawks struggled early. Korver missed two 3-pointers on one possession about 3 minutes into the game and was 0 for 4 on 3s in the half. Korver made a short-range jumper midway through the third quarter, and that seemed to end his cold shooting. He quickly followed with two 3-pointers, extending his NBA record to 94 consecutive games with at least one 3. He added his third 3 minutes later. Korvers string of eight straight points sparked a 17-2 run. NOTES: Hawks F Elton Brand blocked three shots. ... Teague was called for a technical foul for criticizing a call at the end of the first half. Bryant missed the free throw before the start of the second half. ... Farmar (left hamstring tear) ran light sprints before the game for the first time in two weeks. ... The Hawks recalled G Dennis Schroder from the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League and assigned G Jared Cunningham to Bakersfield. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys Cheap Braves Jerseys Cheap Orioles Jerseys Cheap Red Sox Jerseys Cheap Cubs Jerseys Cheap White Sox Jerseys Cheap Reds Jerseys Cheap Indians Jerseys Cheap Rockies Jerseys Cheap Tigers Jerseys Cheap Astros Jerseys Cheap Royals Jerseys Cheap Angels Jerseys Cheap Dodgers Jerseys Cheap Marlins Jerseys ' ' '