Giants shoot blanks at the plate

ATLANTA (AP) - Tim Lincecum was trying to get the pitch inside.

It drifted back over the plate.

That one mistake was enough to send the World Series champion San Francisco Giants to another tough loss.

Mike Minor pitched six crisp innings and Chipper Jones homered off Lincecum for the only run, leading the Atlanta Braves to a 1-0 victory Thursday night.

The Giants lost three of four in the series, dropping six games behind Atlanta in the wild-card race. They came into the night 2 1/2 behind Arizona in the NL West.

"We've just got to find our luck," Lincecum said. "We've got to find it soon."

Battered by injuries, San Francisco has lost 14 of its last 20 games.

The four-game set against the Braves was similar in style to the thrilling NL division series between the teams last fall. San Francisco knocked off Atlanta 3-1 in the playoffs, with every game decided by one run. This time, the Braves had the edge, the four games decided by a total of five runs.

"We can't get shut out. That's our fault," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We've got to get that mojo back. We're just missing it."

Minor (3-2) pitched brilliantly, allowing just four hits and one intentional walk while striking out a season-high nine. Only two runners got as far as second base against the left-hander, who didn't flinch when Cody Ross led off the game with a double.

"Instead of giving in, I tried to bear down," Minor said. "I knew if he scored, that would be a big run."

Lincecum (11-10) was no slouch, surrendering five hits in seven innings with seven Ks. But the wiry right-hander made one pitch he wanted back, serving up a high fastball to Jones leading off the fifth. He sent a drive soaring into the right-field seats for his 11th homer, giving the Braves all the offense they would need.

"Losing's not fun," Bochy said. "Especially when you go out there and pitch like that."

Lincecum said he trying to come inside with the pitch, but his location was off.

"Chipper's a great hitter," he said. "I gave up that one timely home run. That cost me."

Eric O'Flaherty, Jonny Venters and Craig Kimbrel closed out the five-hitter with one inning apiece. Kimbrel struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 37th save in 42 chances.