SAN FRANCISCO — Tim Lincecum covered his face with his glove, paced around the mound in frustration and took a seat on the San Francisco Giants bench for good before the fifth inning even ended.

Indeed, that painful look for the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner is not gone yet.

The Freak is still in a funk.

Jesus Guzman hit two home runs and Chase Headley had one to hand Lincecum another setback and powering the Padres past the Giants, 6-3, on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep.

“I don’t feel like this was any step backward or anything,” Lincecum said. “I just messed up on three pitches.”

That has been the pitcher’s pattern all summer.

Will Venable blooped a two-run double to help the Padres pound Lincecum (4-11), who allowed five runs in 4 2/3 innings. The skinny right-hander with the elongated delivery had shown signs of progress in his previous two outings. Instead, he’s still trying to piece three straight solid starts together and turnaround the worst season of his career.

“My stuff was pretty good in the beginning of the game,” Lincecum said. “I started losing my spots more. I just have to execute those better and get a better result out of it.”

Jason Marquis (4-5) gave up three hits and one earned run in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out eight and walked one to send the NL West-leading Giants to only their third loss in 12 games.

Huston Street extended his scoreless streak to 15 straight innings with a four-out save, including striking out All-Star game MVP Melky Cabrera with two on to end the eighth. Street has converted all 16 save opportunities this season.

After allowing two runs in 15 innings over his previous two starts, Lincecum and the Giants were optimistic that the former ace had finally snapped out of his season-long slump.

So much for that.

Headley hammered a 1-1 fastball over the wall in center in the first to match his career-high of 12 home runs and give the Padres a 1-0 lead. It was the sixth home run allowed in the first inning this year by Lincecum, tying the mark he gave up all of last season.

The Giants answered back in the bottom of the inning when Gregor Blanco singled, stole second and eventually scored on Cabrera’s fly out to left.

The run did little for Lincecum’s confidence.

He loaded the bases in the fourth with one out. He struck out Marquis on three pitches and almost escaped until Venable’s shallow two-run double landed in front of a diving Angel Pagan in left-center, putting the Padres ahead 3-1 and extending Lincecum’s nightmare summer even longer.

“He’s a foot away from getting out of the inning,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. “He really looked like he was going to be sharp. He was showing pretty good command there. As the game went, he struggled getting the ball where he wanted.”

San Francisco’s shaggy-haired starter slumped around the mound, covering his face with his glove and never regaining his composure. Lincecum lofted a fastball clocked at 89 mph over the middle of the plate in the fifth that Guzman crushed over the wall in left.

Guzman also hit a solo shot off Brad Penny leading off the eighth for his sixth home run of the season to give San Diego a 6-1 lead.

After Lincecum walked John Baker, Bochy took that familiar trot to the mound to relieve his former ace before the sixth inning again. Lincecum left after giving up seven hits, five runs and three walks. He tossed 102 pitches — 62 for strikes — and struck out eight.

Lincecum has a 5.88 ERA, the highest among any qualifying National League pitcher, and has only lasted six innings in nine of his 21 starts. The Giants are 6-15 this season when Lincecum takes the mound.

“Lincecum’s got a good arm,” said Padres manager Bud Black. “We got him (Wednesday) but he’s never comfortable to face.”

San Francisco’s final effort fell short.

Brandon Belt reached on a throwing error by shortstop Everth Cabrera that landed in the dugout to start the bottom of the eighth. Joaquin Arias singled home Belt and Theriot delivered an RBI single with two outs to slice San Diego’s lead to 6-3.

Street entered and struck out Cabrera to end San Francisco’s best shot to save Lincecum from another loss.

“He’s still one of the best pitchers,” Guzman said of Lincecum. “He has the same action to every pitch. He’s still hard to face. We all know he can pitch.”

Notes: Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval sat out with a strained left hamstring he injured Tuesday night stretching for a catch to finish off a double play when he was at first base. The team will wait until Friday to decide whether he needs to be put on the DL … Giants catcher Buster Posey got the day off to rest. … San Francisco’s Hector Sanchez (sprained left knee) is scheduled to catch five innings for Triple-A Fresno on Thursday. Sanchez was put through catching and fielding drills Wednesday, including at first base. He’s expected to come off the disabled list when eligible Aug. 2. … The Giants open a three-game series at home against the second-place Dodgers on Friday night.

Angel Pagan

San Francisco center fielder Angel Pagan dives but can’t catch what turned out to be a two-run double by San Diego’s Will Venable on Wednesday. The Padres defeated the Giants, 6-3. AP photo

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