Giants update: 5 games left

The Giants lost two more to the Cubs after Thursday night's crushing blow, including a complete game shutout by Carlos Zambrano with Tim Lincecum going for the black and orange.

This loss all but ensures Timmy won't repeat as NL Cy Young but that the honor will instead go to either Chris Carpenter or Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals.

Until just recently, despite the low win total, a very good argument could still be made that Lincecum deserved to win it again. But at just 14-7, despite a meager 2.47 ERA and a league-high 254 K's it's hard to imagine the young phenom finishing higher than third.

Carpenter has a better ERA (2.30) and a better record (16-4). Wainwright sits just behind #55 in ERA (2.58) but at 19-8 could be the only 20-game winner in the NL.

It's hard to imagine how Lincecum could lose seven games but when you pitch in as many close, low-scoring games as he does fluky things do happen.

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Great effort by Matt Cain Sunday as the G-Men salvaged one with the Cubs and four-hit nights from Pablo Sandoval and Bengie Molina led the boys of the bay to an 8-4 win over Arizona last night.

Two more with the D-Backs at home before the season's final three in San Diego.