SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -The San Francisco Giants are hoping Tim Lincecum can duplicate Sunday's spring outing when they host the Milwaukee Brewers on opening day next month.

Lincecum retired all nine batters he faced in the Giants' 5-2 win over Milwaukee.

``I'm just doing the same thing, going out there trying to be in a better rhythm more and more as I go out there. Rhythm is my key, and I build off that,' said Lincecum, who won the NL Cy Young Award when he went 18-5 with a 2.62 ERA in his first full season in the majors last year.

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``My pitches worked well, except for a couple of curves that got away. Everything else felt really good and smooth. Everything was working.'

Lincecum struck out two and threw 19 of his 27 pitches for strikes, working mainly on his fastball location. He has tossed four scoreless innings in two spring starts, allowing just one hit.

``The plan was for him to go two innings but he was pitching so efficiently he went out for a third,' manager Bruce Bochy said. ``He's throwing great, locating the fastball. Everything is working. He is right on schedule.'

First baseman/outfielder John Bowker hit a three-run homer off Joe Bateman with two outs in the sixth inning to give the Giants a 3-2 lead. It was his first homer of the spring.

``I was trying to at least get the runner in from second base and make it a one-run game. I just got it up in the air,' said Bowker, who had 10 homers in 326 at_bats as a rookie last year.

Milwaukee shortstop J.J. Hardy hit a two-out, two-run double in the top of the sixth inning off Billy Sadler.

Dave Bush threw two shutout innings for Milwaukee, walking two. Carlos Villanueva also worked a scoreless inning, allowing two hits.

``Carlos continued to throw strikes. He battled,' manager Ken Macha said.

Notes: Giants OF Nate Schierholtz (back spasms) was scratched from the lineup. ``He'll be down for at least two, three days,' Bochy said. ``It may be related to his tight hamstrings. We are going to have to rest him.' Bowker started in left field instead. ... Giants RHP Luis Perdomo, a Rule 5 pick from St. Louis, struck out two of the three batters he faced in a perfect seventh inning. He has not given up a hit in his first two appearances. Perdomo must be offered back to St. Louis for half the $50,000 price the Giants paid if he does not make the major league roster. ... Giants LHP Noah Lowry (elbow) has not picked up a ball since feeling soreness early last week and is ``probably a week away,' Bochy said.