San Francisco — When Jeff Francoeur made a strong throw to the plate to cut down Giants baserunner Fred Lewis in the sixth inning Wednesday, it helped extend a remarkable streak for the Braves.

A remarkably bad streak.

It was a fine throw by the strong-armed Braves right-fielder, a commendable play.

Alas, it prevented San Francisco from extending its one-run lead, and the Giants held on to win 3-2, handing the Braves a series loss at AT&T Park — and extending the Braves' major league-record to 26 consecutive losses in road games decided by one run. The streak has lasted nearly a year.

Catcher Brian McCann had three hits against Giants ace Tim Lincecum, while the rest of the Braves accounted for only two singles as Atlanta lost for the ninth time in 12 games and dropped the series.

"He's got some of the best stuff in the game, if not the best," McCann said of Lincecum (12-3), who had eight strikeouts with four walks in eight innings and increased his National League-leading season total to 175 strikeouts.

The slender right-hander overpowered the depleted Braves, who have scored three runs or fewer in seven of their past 10 games and have failed to hit a home run in nine of those games.

The Braves fell to a major league-worst 6-24 in one-run games; they are 46-38 in all others.

"We didn't have a lot of chances, but we did leave some guys on base," manager Bobby Cox said. "[Lincecum] is good. Really good."

Struggling Braves starter Chuck James (2-5) gave up three runs in four innings on five hits, including Aaron Rowand's two-run homer in the first inning. The left-hander is 0-4 with 10.26 ERA in his past four starts, with seven homers allowed in 16 2/3 innings.

"I'm pretty much a one-pitch [fastball] pitcher right now; my changeup's not fooling anybody," said James, who has a 9.10 ERA in seven starts this season, with 10 homers surrendered in 29 2/3 innings.

He has allowed at least one homer in every start this season, and has a 7.27 ERA and 24 homers allowed in 69 2/3 innings over his past 15 major-league starts dating to Aug. 5, 2007.

He's 0-4 with a 9.89 ERA in his past six road starts, with 10 homers allowed in 232/3 innings in that dreadful span.

James could lose the rotation spot again next week when Tom Glavine is expected back from the disabled list. Glavine, recovering from a partially torn flexor tendon near his pitching elbow, is scheduled to make a final minor-league rehab start Saturday.

"Chuck had better control today, but he left some pitches over the plate," said Cox, who said he pulled James after 54 pitches because the Braves' bullpen was rested and there was an urgency to pinch-hit and try to score against Lincecum.

Three Braves relievers combined for four scoreless innings, but Braves scoring was limited to single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Atlanta hitters were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position, including Francoeur's line-out to left field out with two runners on base to end the fourth inning.

Six weeks ago, the Braves shattered the major league record of 21 consecutive one-run road losses by the 2000-01 Kansas City Royals. Now, the Braves are pushing the record to new extremes.

The Braves are only three days away from the one-year anniversary of their last one-run road victory, a 7-6 decision against the New York Mets in which the save went to Oscar Villarreal.

Yes, it's been a while.

After losing two of three games against San Francisco, the worst home team in baseball, the Braves continue their two-city trip with a four-game series against NL West leader Arizona starting Thursday.