SAN FRANCISCO -- Tim Lincecum has talked the past few years about rediscovering the consistency that won him two NL Cy Young Awards and made him one of baseballs best pitchers. Lincecums last two outings have brought him awfully close to finding that form again. The rejuvenated right-hander followed his second career no-hitter with another vintage performance, pitching eight sharp innings to lead the San Francisco Giants past the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 on Tuesday night. "We try to go out there and duplicate when things are feeling good," Lincecum said. "We tried to do that today. All my pitches were working when I threw them. They werent super nasty -- they were just located a little better than usual." Maybe more than a little. Lincecum (7-5) allowed four hits, struck out six and walked two. He worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the fourth and stayed out of trouble the rest of the way, helping San Francisco snap a four-game losing streak since his latest gem against San Diego. Lincecum left after throwing 113 pitches, including 73 for strikes -- the exact same line as his no-hitter against the Padres last week -- before Jean Machi pitched a drama-free ninth. "I think the two (starts), if you look at them, its hard to find a big difference," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Its a guy that had command of all his pitches." Pablo Sandoval hit his 100th career homer to cap a three-run fourth for the Giants, and he got a bottle of bubbly in the clubhouse afterward. San Francisco also scored twice in the fifth to chase Marco Gonzales (0-1) in the left-handers second career start. Gonzales gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 1-3 innings. St. Louis has lost three straight and four of five in a tough stretch against the leagues hottest pitchers. The Cardinals faced a pitcher with a no-hitter this season for the third time in five games. After Josh Beckett and Clayton Kershaw led the Los Angeles Dodgers to victories over St. Louis, Allen Craig singled with one out in the second to put an early end to Lincecums bid for another no-hitter. Lincecum, who has shown signs of returning to his dominant form of late, showed the poise and polish of his younger days even when things started to go awry. Lincecum loaded the bases in the fourth before striking out Craig and Jon Jay and getting Daniel Descalso to ground out. Lincecum pounded his glove and received a standing ovation from the announced sellout crowd of 41,152. "It gets you fired up," right fielder Hunter Pence said. "When a guys making good pitches, you get him on the ropes youve got to make him bleed a little bit. That one slipped away," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. San Francisco supplied all the support Lincecum needed in the bottom of the inning. Buster Poseys double drove in a run before Sandovals wind-aided fly carried just over the wall in left to give San Francisco a 3-0 lead. "Its hard to hit one," said Sandoval, who wore his "lucky" boots for the first time in weeks trying to break San Franciscos skid. "Im excited to get this moment." Pence hit an RBI double and Hector Sanchez drove in another run in the fifth to put the Giants up 5-0. The performance from San Franciscos leading men -- Lincecum, Sandoval, Posey and Pence -- was a welcome turnaround for the teams fans. The Giants entered the game 1-6 on their homestand, including four straight losses to Cincinnati. It was the first time San Francisco had been swept in a four-game series at its waterfront ballpark, which opened in 2000. NOTES: Giants CF Angel Pagan is scheduled to be examined by a specialist in Los Angeles on Wednesday after having a setback in his recovery from a back injury while running. Pagan said he has a bulging disk in his back that is pinching a nerve and causing pain in his legs. .... The Cardinals recalled top prospect Oscar Taveras and started him in RF, giving Matt Holliday a day off. Taveras went 0 for 3 with a walk. ... Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright (10-4, 2.01 ERA) starts opposite Giants RHP Ryan Vogelsong (5-4, 3.96 ERA) on Wednesday. Wholesale Panthers Jerseys . At this point, even he isnt sure when it is going to stop. The right-hander dropped his fourth straight decision in Los Angeles 6-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night, leaving his status very much in doubt as the Dodgers prepare for the stretch drive. Cheap Adidas Panthers Jerseys . - After three days of light, make that very light, workouts, Team Irvin and Team Carter are ready for tonights Pro Bowl. http://www.cheapfloridapanthersjerseys.com/ . THE THUNDER & PACERS BENCHES: In a nutshell, not impressive at all. Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys . Once again, the third baseman delivered in a big spot. Ramirez kept up his torrid hitting with a two-run homer to help back Wily Peraltas solid start, and the Brewers extended their winning streak to seven with a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night. Cheap Florida Panthers Jerseys . The Canadian Luge Association officially named seven athletes to the 2014 Olympic team Tuesday. Edney, will lead teenagers John Fennell and Mitchel Malyk into their first Games in mens singles. Tristan Walker and Justin Snith will represent Canada in doubles, while Gough, will be joined by Kimberley McRae in womens singles.NEW YORK -- Yankees outfielder Carlos Beltran was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday because a pain-relief injection did not ease the effects of a bone spur in his right elbow. The eight-time All-Star was given a cortisone injection Monday night, soon after he felt a sharp pain in his elbow while taking swings in the batting cage during a game against the Mets. He is also taking cortisone pills. "Im getting better but not to the point where Im capable of swinging the bat 100 per cent," Beltran said. "Right now we just hope to give the injection or they give me some cortisone by mouth, pills by mouth, to try to make it better. Lets say in 15 days it doesnt get better, then we have to talk about it and make another decision." If the elbow doesnt improve Beltran would likely need surgerry, which could sideline him six to eight weeks.dddddddddddd Beltran has never had an elbow injury in his career so he is trying to focus only on returning after the 15 days are up. Manager Joe Girardi said Ichiro Suzukis back was feeling better but Alfonso Soriano started again in right field. Suzuki has been out since hurting himself trying to make a catch Sunday. Right-hander Chase Whitley took Beltrans spot on the roster. He was called up from Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes/Barre to start in place of injured ace CC Sabathia in the finale of the Subway Series against the New York Mets. The 37-year-old Beltran was hitting .240 with five homers and 15 RBIs in his first season with the Yankees. Pitcher Bruce Billings was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. ' ' '