Two Padres homer behind stellar Stults
Hundley, Gyorko go deep as San Diego's starter fans four in five frames
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Eric Stults had his best start of the spring, and Nick Hundley and Jedd Gyorko each drilled home runs as the Padres defeated the Angels, 4-2, on Friday at the Peoria Sports Complex.
Stults, who entered the game with an 11.37 ERA, allowed one run over five innings on three hits. He had one walk and four strikeouts.
"After a little bit of a tough start [this spring], today was more like it," Padres manager Bud Black said of Stults. "I liked the fastball-changeup combo right from the get-go. I thought the fastball was located well. Stultsy threw the ball well."
The Angels scored first when, with one out in the first inning, J.B. Shuck tripled to the gap in right-center field. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Grant Green.
The Padres tied the score in the second inning when Hundley connected for his second home run of the spring. Hundley also knocked in a run with a single in the fourth inning.
Gyorko hit his first home run of the spring in the fifth inning.
Tyler Skaggs, who started the game for the Angels, allowed three runs on eight hits in four innings. He had four strikeouts. Skaggs is expected to be the Angels' No. 5 starter this season.
Shuck had three hits for the Angels, who scored their second run in the ninth.
San Diego pitcher Blaine Boyer, a roster hopeful, tossed a scoreless inning and has not allowed a run so far in six outings covering seven innings.
Padres up next: The Padres face the Dodgers at 1:05 p.m. PT on Saturday at Camelback Ranch, available on Gameday Audio. The original starter was to be Andrew Cashner, who now will most likely start a Minor League game. The Padres would probably rather Cashner not start against the team he could face March 30 when these two teams open the regular season at Petco Park. Look for Joe Wieland to get the start. Wieland has shown mid-90s velocity in his first spring since he had Tommy John surgery in 2012. He has a 7.71 ERA in three appearances, but all four runs he has allowed came Feb. 28 in his first outing.