SF Giants' Lincecum gushes about Sandoval, Sanchez

After shutting down the Padres to the tune of one unearned run on four hits in seven innings Wednesday, Tim Lincecum spoke mainly about a rookie catcher and an acrobatic third baseman.

Lincecum (13-12) gave up that run in the first and then kept San Diego off the board in his final six innings. Lincecum said he and catcher Hector Sanchez got on the same page after the first inning.

Said Lincecum: "I was shaking off a lot of pitches" in the first inning. He said Sanchez then "made a big adjustment. ... He did a really good job back there and allowed me just to get my really good rhythm from the second inning on."

Pablo Sandoval saved a run in the third. With two outs and runners at the corners, the third baseman dived to his left to grab Jesus Guzman's grounder. Sandoval quickly looked at second, but he had no play there. Then still on his knees, he managed to get enough on the throw to get Guzman and keep the game tied 1-1.

Sandoval made two other fine plays: On one, he charged Mat Latos' sacrifice-bunt attempt and started a 5-6-4 double play. On the other, Sandoval stopped a well-hit ball by Cameron Maybin and again threw from his knees to retire the hitter.

"I was just smiling the whole time," Lincecum said, "because he's on the ground and making spectacular plays."

Manager Bruce Bochy said Sandoval "had the Brooks Robinson look down there, didn't he? He was throwing from everywhere, every angle."

Sandoval was asked if he could have made those plays last year, when he weighed considerably more.

"I don't know," he joked. "I don't remember."

Posey update: Catcher Buster Posey was scheduled to head to Arizona on Wednesday night to continue his rehab from season-ending leg surgery.

Bochy said Posey's "in a good frame of mind" now that he's able to do at least a little baseball work.

Said Bochy: "He passed me while walking in today. I said, 'Jeez, you've got a little hop to your step now.' "

Briefly: Sergio Romo retired all three men he faced in the eighth, extending his scoreless-innings streak to 19 1/3 . In that stretch, hitters are 4-for-59 (.068) against him. ... The Giants have a four-game winning streak for the first time since July 9-15 and they swept a series for the first time since taking three from Cleveland, June 24-26.

This article appeared on page B - 5 of the San Francisco Chronicle