Tim Lincecum struck out nine in seven innings and had a two-run single to lead the visiting San Francisco Giants to a 6-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday.

Lincecum outdueled Padres ace Mat Latos to help the Giants move back into a virtual tie for first place in the National League West with San Diego. San Francisco won three games of the four-game series.

Lincecum (14-9) gave up one run and seven hits while winning his third consecutive start.

Buster Posey hit a two-run homer to right field in the first inning to start off the assault against Latos (14-6), who lasted just four innings. Jose Guillen added a third-inning sacrifice fly before Lincecum drove home Pablo Sandoval and Juan Uribe with his fourth-inning single to left field.

Latos saw a record streak of 15 consecutive starts of allowing two or fewer runs end. He gave up five runs and seven hits in his second shortest outing of the season.

David Eckstein had a run-scoring single in the fifth for San Diego.

Aubrey Huff had three hits for San Francisco.