Cashner grounds Cubs in final spring tuneup
Opening Night starter induces eight groundouts in three sharp innings
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Andrew Cashner induced eight groundouts in his final tuneup of the spring and Xavier Nady and Seth Smith each had two hits to lead the Padres in a 5-5 tie with the Cubs on Tuesday night at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Cashner, who will get the start in the season opener Sunday night against the Dodgers at Petco Park, allowed two hits in three innings with an unearned run. He also had one strikeout.
"The biggest thing this spring was focusing on my fastball command," Cashner said.
When told he got eight ground-ball outs, Cashner smiled. "That's huge ... especially at Petco."
Chicago starting pitcher, C.J. Edwards, the No. 4 prospect in the system according to MLB.com, got the start and allowed three runs on four hits with three walks and one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings.
The Padres scored first when Nady -- trying to make the team as a non-roster invitee -- singled to right field to start the second inning. Nady's hit was misplayed into a two-base error by Ryan Kalish, allowing Nady to advance to third. Rene Rivera then followed with a sacrifice fly.
Nady had an RBI double in the third inning and Rivera followed with a sacrifice fly.
Trailing 1-0, the Cubs tied the game with a run in the third inning as Kalish dumped a soft single into left field that allowed Chris Coghlan to score. The run was unearned as Coghlan reached on an error to start the inning.
The Padres added on in the seventh on third baseman Gabriel Quintana's two-run double against left-hander Jonathan Sanchez.
With a 5-3 lead and two outs in the ninth, an error charged to second baseman Clint Moore on a high popup allowed the Cubs to score the game-tying runs.
Up next: It's the ultimate getaway day for the Padres on Wednesday, as they'll head back to San Diego after facing the Royals at 12:05 p.m. PT in Peoria (Listen live on free padres.com webcast). Ian Kennedy, the team's No. 2 starter, makes his sixth appearance of the spring. After a rough start, his command was at its best the last time out against the Mariners, when he allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings. He threw 95 pitches in that start and will likely exceed 100 on Wednesday. The Padres then play exhibition games Friday and Saturday against the Indians at the University of San Diego.