SAN FRANCISCO — John Baker saved the Chicago Cubs a large measure of embarrassment Wednesday by snapping the San Francisco Giants’ no-hit bit by hitting a single off reliever Jeremy Affeldt with one out in the seventh inning.
But that merely suspended the misery the Cubs went on to suffer as the Giants scored three times in the seventh and pull away to a 5-0 victory.
Affeldt issued a walk to pinch hitter Justin Ruggiano before Baker hit a clean single to right field. But the rally fizzled as Darwin Barney and Emilio Bonifacio grounded into a fielder’s choice.
The Cubs had Lincecum on the ropes during a 32-pitch first inning but couldn’t deliver a big hit, as third baseman Pablo Sandoval made a diving stop to rob Starlin Castro of a hit, and Nate Schierholtz lined out to first base with runners at second and third. Lincecum was pulled for a pinch hitter in the fifth after 96 pitches.
Edwin Jackson pitched five scoreless innings before Angel Pagan led off the sixth with a double, and Jackson walked Hunter Pence. After retiring Buster Posey on a fly to center, James Russell relieved Jackson but allowed an RBI single to Pablo Sandoval, and Tyler Colvin hit an opposite field RBI double to left off Brian Schlitter.
The Giants added three more runs in the seventh on a fielding error by third baseman Mike Olt, and Hector Sanchez followed with a two-run double off Justin Grimm.
