Tim Lincecum rebounded from an 0-5 August by pitching one of his best games of the season against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday. Lincecum was masterful in leading his team to a tight, 2-1 victory to help improve their place in the standings, and he did so against one of 2010’s best starting pitchers, Ubaldo Jimenez. A pitchers duel unfolded at AT&T Park that ended with The Freak showing why he’s a two-time defending Cy Young Award winner.

Lincecum gave up a home run to Carlos Gonzalez, but he’s hardly the first pitcher to do that this season. You also can’t fault him for his team’s offense. He’s a pitcher; he’s not supposed to get on base, but the eight guys ahead of him didn’t record a base hit until Jose Guillen singled in the fifth. Still, Lincecum continued to shut down the Rockies as he ended up throwing eight strong innings of five hit, one walk ball en route to his first win since July 30.

The Freak managed to lower his season’s ERA to 3.68 in picking up his 12th win. He’s also now at 188 strikeouts, which brings him within striking distance of the top of the NL strikeout leaders. He is also now at 178.2 innings pitched. He’s not on pace to break any career highs, but he’s certainly been an effective member of the Giants’ starting rotation. He still may need a couple more performances like Wednesday’s if he wants to go to his first postseason.

Now, the two-time defending Cy Young champion has his work cut out for him. He will not win a third-straight pitching award, but the Giants themselves are just 3.0 games back of San Diego in the NL West and 1.5 games back of the Phillies for the wild card. Lincecum needs to pull up his socks and start throwing his best if his team wants to make its first postseason since 2003. With the Padres going through a slump of epic proportions, now is the time to make a move, and Lincecum started that motion on Wednesday.