Tim Lincecum throws no-hitter against Padres . . . again

Giants righthander Tim Lincecum threw the second no-hitter of his career on Wednesday afternoon, shutting out the San Diego Padres -- the same team he blanked

Giants righthander Tim Lincecum threw the second no-hitter of his career on Wednesday afternoon, shutting out the San Diego Padres -- the same team he blanked for a no-no last July 13 -- in a 4-0 San Francisco win.

Lincecum allowed just one walk and retired Will Venable on a groundball to second baseman Joe Panik for the final out. He is just the second pitcher -- and the first in more than 100 years -- to no-hit the same team twice. The Indians' Addie Joss did it to the White Sox in both 1908 and 1910.

120 Sports: Watch final out and reaction from Lincecum's no-hitter

This has been a season of struggles for the 30-year-old Lincecum, a two-time Cy Young winner. He came into the game 5-5 with a 4.90 ERA, on the heels of a 10-14, 4.37 ERA season last year, the highlight of which was his 148-pitch gem in San Diego. By contrast, Lincecum needed just 113 pitches to blank the majors' worst hitting team on Wednesday.

GALLERY: Most recent no-hitters by team

Buster Posey, who caught the final out on Panik's throw and was the catcher for Lincecum's first no-hitter, went 4-for-4 at the plate and had two RBIs in support of Lincecum, who had two hits of his own. They are two of the core players who have helped the Giants win two World Series in the past four seasons and contributed to their fast start this year. San Francisco is now 46-32 and entered the day leading the NL West by three games.

That division has produced all three no-hitters this season. The Dodgers' Josh Beckett (May 25) and Clayton Kershaw (June 18) threw the others.