Lincecum sharp in Giants win over A's

SAN FRANCISCO " Tim Lincecum threw hard and for a lot of strikes, exactly what the Giants were hoping for in his final spring appearance.

Lincecum, the Cy Young award winner and opening day starter, struck out eight in 5 2-3 innings, walking one while allowing three runs on four hits as San Francisco defeated the Oakland Athletics 7-4 on Thursday night.

Pablo Sandoval had three hits and drove in two runs for the Giants, who won their third straight. Travis Ishikawa drove in two runs, Bengie Molina had three hits and drove in a run and both Edgar Renteria and Aaron Rowand hit sacrifice flies.

Eric Chavez hit his first home run, a drive over the center field wall for Oakland. He had three hits in his first 21 at bats before the two-run shot off Lincecum in the fourth.

Nomar Garciaparra saw one pitch and extended his hitting streak to eight games. He pinch hit for Jack Cust in the sixth and drove a single into left field off Giants reliever Alex Hinshaw to drive in the A's third run. Landon Powell singled home a run in the ninth.

A's starter Trevor Cahill allowed four runs on six hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out one.

"I felt, personally, just trying to get used to pitching in a big league stadium," said Cahill, whose only other appearance in a major league stadium was during last year's Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. "Looking around . . . it was an adrenaline rush."

The Giants scored three times in the first off Cahill before the right-hander settled in and pitched effectively the rest of the way.

"He can throw anywhere from 88 to 95 miles an hour," A's manager Bob Geren said. "He throws a hard sinker, similar stuff to Brandon Webb. That's his main pitch. I'm saying Webb is the kind of pitcher he can be."

Brad Ziegler pitched a perfect eighth and has retired all 12 batters he's faced around his appearances with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Matt Holliday, who went 1-for-3, has seven hits in his last 17 at bats after going 2-for-15 in his previous six games.

Justin Miller got the final out of the sixth, and Merkin Valdez, Jeremy Affeldt and Bob Howry each pitched an inning to complete the six-hitter.

Notes: Giants RHP Brian Wilson (infected finger) threw a bullpen session and will be available to pitch Friday. ... Giants LHP Jonathan Sanchez will throw a bullpen Friday in hopes he will be ready to pitch Sunday. ... A's LHP Gio Gonzalez (sore arm) made his first appearance since March 12. He gave up three runs on two hits and walked two in an inning of work... The attendance was announced at 20,563. ... Affeldt has not allowed a run over his last seven appearances. Opponents are 4-for-23 against him in that span.