Padres Win Road Series In Chicago

Home runs back strong start by Cashner

In his first two starts of 2015, Padres starter Andrew Cashner allowed 10 runs. However, only five of them were earned. His defense has not been helping out very much.

That trend continued on Sunday against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, but after one very bad inning, Cash found a way to avoid any more defensive lapses: Just don’t let anybody on base.

The Cubs got two unearned runs in the first inning on three singles and two errors. After that, Cash buckled down, only allowing two hits over the next five innings, to get his first win of the season in a 5-2 Padres victory. Cashner finished with five strikeouts and realized he has a new toy to play with.

After struggling with his fastball location in his first two starts, Cash used his much-improved changeup more often to great effect. It’s a pitch he’s developed enough to use as a legitimate out pitch.

San Diego’s offense once again staged a comeback, the fifth time they’ve overcome a deficit to win a game this season. Will Middlebrooks almost immediately erased Chicago’s 2-0 lead with a 2-run homer in the top of the second inning. Middlebrooks has already hit three home runs and driven in nine. For the entire 2014 season, Padres 3rd basemen went deep 11 times with 56 RBI.

The Padres took the lead in the 6th inning on Will Venable’s line drive single that scored Matt Kemp, then padded the lead a bit when Yangervis Solarte smashed his first home run of the season off Chicago reliever Jason Motte, a 2-run blast to make it a 5-2 game.

Closer Craig Kimbrel threw two straight games and would have been unavailable for Monday’s series opener against the Rockies at Coors Field, so instead of getting another save Joaquin Benoit threw a scoreless 9th to get his first save of the season.

That decision was made by bench coach Dave Roberts, who took over after manager Bud Black was ejected in the second inning after saying something from the dugout to home plate umpire James Hoye. On the very next pitch from Cubs starter Jon Lester, Middlebrooks hit his home run.

The Padres took two out of three from the Cubs at Wrigley, giving the Friars their first road series win of the season. San Diego has won three straight series overall.

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