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. Stitched Marlins Jerseys . The cause of his death is as of yet undetermined, but police said foul play is not suspected. Custom Miami Marlins Jerseys .Y. -- Phil Jackson lost out on his preferred coach, but hes working hard on keeping his star player. https://www.cheapmarlinsjerseys.us/ . We wonder if the price of a Roberts rookie card has at least gone up a few cents? Tribute Tweets #Padres Tony Gwynn had 287 career plate appearances against #Braves trio of Maddux, Glavine, & Smoltz, he hit . Miami Marlins Shirts . The 22-year-old slugger, who is no stranger to adversity, made up for it at the end. Miami Marlins Gear . The attacking midfielder arrives on a free transfer from Spains Malaga. The 28-year-old joins Scottish striker Kenny Miller and Argentine midfielder Matias Laba as designated players on the Whitecaps roster.Bristols acting head coach Mark Tainton has told Sky Sports News HQ he would like the job on a full-time basis. Tainton replaced Andy Robinson after the former England and Scotland head coach was suspended on Thursday.It follows a poor start to the season for the newly promoted side, which has seen them lose their opening nine games in all competitions. Tainton is Bristols all-time leading scorer and has previously coached at international level with Ireland as well as with Wasps and London Irish in the Aviva Premiership.As a Bristolian, of course I would like the job on the longer term, Tainton said. But Im a realist. Ive not been a head coach for a Premiership team for a long time. Robinson suspended Bristol review their coaching requirements Ive spent a number of years coaching abroad and have only been back a couple of years. Ive got good experience with the two Premiership teams I have worked with.If the job was offered to me, thenn of course, I would like to accept the position.ddddddddddddFormer South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer is favourite for the vacant role, with former Bath director of rugby Gary Gold also linked.A Bristol spokesman suggested that a decision on the clubs coaching structure would be made very soon. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. The way that we are in the legal position at the moment means that we cannot comment on anything other than on-field matters, he said.However, we are confident that there will be a solution in the very near future, possibly early next week.Bristol face Worcester and Sale in the Anglo-Welsh Cup before resuming their Premiership campaign away to local rivals Bath on November 18. 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