SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Tim Lincecum was happy he reached 80 pitches Saturday against the A's, putting him in line to be ready for a full workload when he makes his season debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 3.

The other numbers in the box score weren't as positive.

Those 80 pitches didn't get Lincecum through the fourth inning, and he was charged with five runs on six hits and three walks in the Giants' 12-5 loss. Of the 18 hitters Lincecum faced, nine reached base, including Yoenis Cespedes, who hit a mammoth two-run homer in the first inning.

"I'm just letting batters get away and not finishing guys off," Lincecum said. "It goes back to location. I'm not repeating my mechanics, but I don't feel like I'm too far off."

Lincecum was heartened by the fact he struck out five, including three in a first inning that included Cespedes depositing a "spinning slider" high up on the berm beyond the left-field wall.

Through four Cactus League starts, Lincecum has a 10.97 ERA. Manager Bruce Bochy said there are no plans to alter Lincecum's schedule as he tries to find his footing before the regular season.

"He just never really got in a good rhythm today," Bochy said. "He had trouble getting the ball where he wanted to. This outing, hopefully he learns from and regroups. He was out of sync, and it was obvious from the start."

Lincecum is the only Giants starter who has yet to get through five innings but said he feels better physically than he did at this time last spring and just needs more game action after missing much of the spring because of a blister.

"As I see (live hitters) more and more, things will fall into place," he said. "Throwing to hitters more often will benefit me."

• Third baseman Pablo Sandoval, who has an inflamed nerve in his right elbow, tried to play catch Saturday morning but felt pain. Bochy said it's too early to declare that Sandoval could miss Opening Day on April 1 but added that if Sandoval can't throw today, that might become the case.

A's pick up first baseman

The trade of Chris Carter to the Houston Astros in February might pay the A's another dividend.

The A's claimed first baseman Nate Freiman off waivers from Houston, potentially filling their need for a right-handed power-hitting option at first behind left-handed starter Brandon Moss.

The Astros plan to begin the season with three first basemen in the lineup: Carter in left field, Carlos Pena as the designated hitter and Brett Wallace at first. With that glut, they had no room for Freiman.

"Once we traded Chris Carter there, we knew they might have an abundance there once they got him," A's assistant general manager David Forst said, "so we made sure we got a good look at (Freiman in spring training)."

At Double A last year. Freiman hit .348 against left-handers with eight homers in just 112 at-bats. His numbers against right-handers weren't bad – .285 with 16 homers in 404 at-bats – but the left-handed numbers fill an A's need.

• Tommy Milone had a mostly positive start Saturday, although he wasn't happy with the first inning, when two of the first three men he faced singled, leading to one of the three runs against him.

"I knew this might be my last start (in Arizona) before the season, and I wanted to be season-ready," Milone said. "I can confidently say that I am, although you know there are always things you can improve on."

In 5 1/3 innings, Milone allowed six hits, including Brandon Belt's third homer in the last two days.

• The A's had 17 hits, including homers by Cespedes, Eric Sogard and Adam Rosales. Sogard, vying for the second-base job, went 3 for 3 and is batting .538 this spring.

• Josh Reddick, who sprained his left ankle Friday, was walking with no noticeable limp, although he said there is still some soreness. The A's plan to have him go through a full workout today and hope he can play Monday.

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