first fine. Im going to appeal it and see ho

SAN FRANCISCO -- With all the ups and downs in recent seasons, including his demotion to the bullpen for the playoffs, Tim Lincecum can appreciate the strong starts when most everything goes right -- reminding himself, from his own experiences, how quickly things change. Backed by solo home runs from Pablo Sandoval, Brandon Belt and Marco Scutaro, Lincecum looked in his best form so far in 2013 as the San Francisco Giants beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Sunday to wrap up an impressive homestand. Lincecum (3-2) struck out seven in seven scoreless innings to end a three-start winless stretch in which he went 0-2. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner also stopped a four-start skid against Atlanta, beating the Braves for the first time since April 11, 2010. "Ill take it," Lincecum said. "But Im not jumping up in the air right now. ... Im happy about it, but its still a work in progress. Im still working to get better." Belt hit a solo homer in the second, Sandoval connected in the third and Scutaro went deep leading off the fifth. Gregor Blanco had an RBI double. Brandon Crawford added an RBI single in the fourth for the Giants, who concluded a 7-3 homestand. San Francisco won a home series against the NL East for the first time since April last year. Sandovals two-out drive in the third cleared the elevated right-field arcade and found the water in McCovey Cove, setting off a kayaking commotion in a frenzy to retrieve the souvenir ball. "Any time Pablos got a smile on his face its hard for the whole team not to jump on that energy and feed off it," Lincecum said. It was the 63rd splash homer by the Giants -- home run king Barry Bonds has 35 -- seventh by Kung Fu Panda and second for San Francisco this year. There have been 89 in the 14-season history of AT&T Park, including one by the Braves Brian McCann on Friday night. "My wife asked me to hit a home run into the water for her for Mothers Day," Braves starter Kris Medlen joked. "I must have misunderstood her, and gave up a home run that went into the water." In just his third quality start in eight outings, Lincecum allowed a season-low two hits after being tagged for 19 over his previous two appearances. Giants closer Sergio Romo, San Franciscos fourth reliever, allowed an RBI double to pinch-hitter Evan Gattis for Atlantas lone run. Lincecum said he chatted with the other starters after his last outing about getting back on track collectively as a rotation. "Its just kind of one of those things, we kick each other in the (rear end)," he said after a 111-pitch performance. "Its just, here we go, this is the start of something hopefully good." The NL West-leading Giants make a quick, two-game stop starting Tuesday in Toronto, where former San Francisco outfielder Melky Cabrera will receive his World Series ring for contributions last season before his 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test. San Francisco then heads to Coors Field in Denver for four games against the Rockies. "Its not going to be easy travel for these guys," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We get into Colorado late, but thats part of the schedule." Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez rejoined his team after two days away to attend his daughter Gigis college graduation in Georgia. But Atlanta lost its third straight since taking the opener Thursday night -- outscored 23-4 over the final three games. "We havent been real fun to watch right now," Gonzalez said. "What did we score, four runs the past couple games? They have a good club and any time we made a mistake they took advantage. We didnt get much of anything going until the end when we scored a run." The Braves continue their 10-game trip at Arizona, where left fielder Justin Upton will face his former Diamondbacks teammates. Medlen (1-5) lost his fourth straight decision and saw his winless stretch reach six outings since his lone victory his first time out this year, April 4 against the Phillies. The right-hander allowed five runs, three earned, walked a season-high five and struck out one in 5 1-3 innings. Umpires went to a replay review after Scutaros fly ball in the sixth was interfered with by a fan, preventing a possible catch by Upton. It was ruled a double, giving Scutaro six straight multihit games during his 12-game hitting streak. NOTES: Lincecum went seven or more innings allowing two or fewer hits for the first time since Aug. 13, 2011, at the Marlins. "It looked nasty from my perspective," Belt said. ... Bochy on all the pink bats, sleeves, cleats and wristbands for breast cancer awareness on Mothers Day: "Its a great day for all of us to have a chance to honour our mothers, and really for me to reflect back and realize how blessed I was to have such a great mother, not just in raising me but she was a big part of my baseball life, with my father being in the service," he said. His mother, Melrose, died in March 2007. ... Bochy hadnt decided on his designated hitter for the two games against the Blue Jays. Cheap Vans Old Skool .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. Discount Old Skool . Arsenal failed to take full advantage of its main rivals stumbles on Saturday as substitute Gerard Deulofeu levelled with a hard shot from a tight angle in the 84th minute to give Everton a deserved point. Ahead of a crucial fortnight that will see them play against Napoli in the Champions League, Manchester City and Chelsea, Arsenal leads by five points ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea. http://www.cheapoldskool.com/ .Y. -- Paul Byron and Matt Stajan scored as the Calgary Flames started a five-game road trip with a 2-1 overtime win over the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon. Old Skool Shoes From China . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. Wholesale Old Skool . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Calvin Pryor was hit hard by the NFL for a hard hit.The New York Jets safety was fined nearly $25,000 for his tackle of Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin last Sunday, but Pryor plans to appeal it.I dont know if it was a clean hit or not, but I dont think it was worth $25,000, Pryor said Wednesday. It was a first offense, as well. My first fine. Im going to appeal it and see how it goes. Hopefully, it can be reduced.Pryor initially posted his displeasure on Instagram on Wednesday with a post that included a picture of the hit and the caption: 25k really?? Cmon man.The NFL deemed that Pryor struck the head and neck area of Baldwin, who made a 38-yard catch on the play in Seattles 27-17 win. A first offense, for hitting a defenseless player is $24,309 --- likely the amount the Jets safety will have to pay the league.ddddddddddddIt happened so fast, Pryor said of the play. When I spun around, he was already falling a little bit, so that was the only play I could make. I tried to target myself a little lower, but he was already falling, so it was kind of hard. Thats just a bang-bang play.Pryor was asked what he would suggest the fine should be, if nearly $25,000 is too much.Zero, he said with a laugh. Im just thinking about my daughter, my family, all the (things) I could do with $25,000, man. Ill see what they say and just keep playing football.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '