"The hits in the first inning of the Cincinnati Reds' 13-5 win over the A's on Monday came in all varieties against Ben Sheets — line drives, seeing-eye singles, even a towering homer mixed in for good measure.

The A's Opening Night starter faced 10 hitters and left without recording an out. His final line: 0 innings pitched, eight hits, 10 runs (nine earned), one walk and an ERA that reads 31.15 after three Cactus League starts.

"People have had bad springs before, but this is taking it to a whole new level," Sheets acknowledged.

The A's are more concerned with how Sheets' surgically repaired right elbow is doing. And that's what made his afternoon an odd one.

He said he felt better physically than he has all spring, and his fastball hit 91 mph according to one scout's radar gun. Sheets said he feels that's about normal for him at this stage of camp.

But after missing all of last season, Sheets' mechanics remain "a work in progress" in his words. His command is off as a result, particularly with his curve.

Chris Dickerson led off the bottom of the first with a ground-rule double on which A's left fielder Jake Fox never had a read.

Five of the next seven batters got hits. Another reached via walk and another on Mark Ellis' misplay of a chopper.

Dickerson then delivered the crowning blow — a two-run homer deep to right on a 3-2 fastball that chased Sheets."