SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It didn't matter that Tim Lincecum was facing the Los Angeles Angels' Triple-A team Saturday. Catcher Bengie Molina told the Giants' ace to block out the hitters.

Lincecum stretched his pitch count to 92 while allowing a run in five innings, striking out six and yielding five hits. Major leaguer Mike Napoli had two of them, both doubles, and drew two of Lincecum's three walks. The Angels had Napoli bat in every inning to get extra work.

"Man, that was a lot of Napolis," Lincecum said.

With just one more exhibition start before opening day, Lincecum still has a checklist of things he wants to accomplish before he feels ready for the Milwaukee Brewers. Pitching coach Dave Righetti wanted Lincecum to do a better job staying on line through his delivery. Despite a few deep counts, Righetti liked what he saw.

"I can't emphasize the rhythm thing enough," Lincecum said. "It's about getting your body used to the games and the grind."

That includes his fingertips. Molina said Lincecum has been dealing with a small blister on the middle finger of his right hand, which might explain why he had thrown fewer curveballs and sliders in recent outings.

"His curveball has been too high," Molina said. "He had been using fastball-change-up. But he threw some good breaking balls today."

Lincecum will start Thursday against the A's at AT&T Park. Five days after that, it'll be time to haul out the red, white and blue bunting.

"I know it's one of 162, but to give him the ball that day is special," Molina said. "We'll go about it like a normal game: go over hitters, come up with a plan. You don't want to overflow his head. But I don't think that can happen. This kid is so laid back."

—The Giants gave the Napoli treatment to Nate Schierholtz, who is behind on at-bats after missing time with a bulging disk in his lower back. Schierholtz will play at minor league camp again on Sunday, Manager Bruce Bochy said.

Bochy said he does not anticipate Schierholtz beginning the season on the disabled list.

—The Giants knocked out right-hander Chris Young but blew a 9-1 lead in an 11-10 loss to the San Diego Padres at Peoria, Ariz. Even pitcher Kevin Pucetas took part in the early offensive show, reaching on a pair of broken-bat hits. Brandon Medders gave up his first official runs of the spring, taking the loss in the ninth.

—Even with Jack Taschner gone,there's no guarantee that left-hander Alex Hinshaw will make the team. Bochy wouldn't rule out starting the season with Jeremy Affeldt as the only left-hander in his bullpen.

"I always believe you go with your best pitchers," Bochy said. "The guy you feel most comfortable getting a lefty out may be a right-hander."

Hinshaw is helping his cause, though. He pitched a 1-2-3 seventh inning, striking out two.

—Bochy hoped for third baseman Pablo Sandoval and shortstop Edgar Renteria to play all nine innings, but both players came out after the fourth because of minor injuries.

Sandoval sprained his left ankle while avoiding a pitch and probably needs another day off. Renteria had tightness in his right elbow but is expected to be available Sunday.

—The Giants have hired former major league power hitter Steve "Bye Bye" Balboni as a major league scout. Earlier this year, the Giants added former major league hitting coach Rick Down to their scouting ranks.

___

(c) 2009, San Jose Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.).

Visit MercuryNews.com, the World Wide Web site of the Mercury News, at http://www.mercurynews.com.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.