PEORIA, Ariz. -- Andrew Cashner tossed three hitless innings with five strikeouts before the Padres used a three-run eighth inning to claim a 6-3 Cactus League win over the Indians on Saturday at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Cleveland pitcher Danny Salazar wasn't too shabby either, striking out seven over four scoreless innings. Salazar, who struck out 195 hitters last season en route to winning 14 games, allowed three hits and no walks in his best start of Cactus League play. The right-hander used a steady dose of 95 mph fastballs to keep San Diego's offense in check, increasing his spring strikeout total to 14 over nine innings.
"I was attacking everybody with my fastball and I came with my secondary stuff," Salazar said. "It wasn't easy. I was trying really hard to slow down when I was behind in the count to throw a strike. I was just trying to throw hard on the corners."
Alex Dickerson had a two-run, opposite-field single in the sixth inning to give the Padres a 2-1 lead. Alexei Ramirez added a sacrifice fly in the inning to make it 3-1.

The Indians got a home run from first baseman Jesus Aguilar in the fourth inning off Drew Pomeranz. James Ramsey added an RBI double in the seventh inning, cutting the lead to 3-2. Giovanny Urshela followed with an RBI double of his own to tie it.

As for Salazar, it marked another fine performance for the right-hander, who gave up three runs on two hits in two innings against the Reds in his first start of spring. He bounced back with three scoreless innings of one-hit ball against the Dodgers in his second outing.

Derek Norris had two hits for the Padres, including a ground-rule double in the sixth. Jabari Blash drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth to break the tie and Jemile Weeks followed with a two-run single to make it 6-3.

Two runners reached against Cashner in the first -- Will Venable on a dropped third strike and Robbie Grossman on a walk -- but the right-hander got Aguilar to ground into an inning-ending double play. Cashner retired the last seven hitters he faced.
"I kind of abandoned the mechanics I had been working on with [pitching coach Darren Balsley]," said Cashner. "I abandoned them about two weeks ago. I went to some different mechanics in the middle of my bullpen the other day, and I think that's what I'm going to stick with this whole year. My fastball doesn't leak on it. I felt like that was the best fastball command I've had since 2014."

Next up for the Indians: The Indians have a split squad on Sunday. Michael Clevinger will start and throw three innings against the Royals followed by Trevor Bauer for four innings in Surprise. Josh Tomlin will start against Chase Anderson and the Brewers at home. Edinson Volquez will start for the Royals. Both games are scheduled to begin at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Next up for the Padres: The Padres head to Scottsdale Stadium on Sunday for a 3:05 p.m. PT game against the Giants, their first meeting against their National League West Division rivals. Brandon Maurer makes his second start of the spring and is expected to go three innings. Maurer had a clean first inning the last time out against the D-backs on March 8 before allowing five runs in the second inning while getting just one out. The Padres are trying to get Maurer stretched out as he's making the conversion from reliever to starter.