The Padres have lost their first two games of the 2014 Cactus League season, both to the Mariners, by a combined score of 19-2.
Only 2nd baseman Cory Spangenberg has been credited with an RBI, on a groundout in Thursday's 7-1 loss. The Friars got their only run Friday on an errant pickoff throw (final score, 12-1).
So, why is it all smiles around the Peoria Sports Complex, and not just on the Seattle side?
Because the guys the Padres are counting on to be big pieces of their pitching staff have emerged from the first two real fake games unscathed.
Eric Stults got roughed up a little bit in the opener but felt fine and was not really throwing any breaking balls. Friday, Andrew Cashner let the first two Mariners batters reach base, then retired six in a row with a pair of strikeouts and is unharmed.
This is a big deal for the Padres! Remember, this is a team that has lost more man-games to injuries the last two seasons than any other team in Major League Baseball. They've had some bumps and bruises, plus Chase Headley's calf strain, but nothing devastating like a surgery to Carlos Quentin yet.
Offensively, the Padres have not had their entire projected starting lineup together yet. On Friday the only projected starter was catcher Nick Hundley, and his spot in the lineup likely depends on the health of Yasmani Grandal.
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So, bask in the glory of this 0-2 beginning, Padres fans! I think we can all agree to trade losses for good health at this stage of the process.
