Happ stays hot, homers again to lead Cubs

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Ian Happ's red-hot bat powered the Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the Padres on Monday at Peoria Sports Complex.
Happ -- the Cubs' first-round Draft pick in 2015 and their No. 2 prospect, per MLBPipeline.com -- has raked for the better part of the past week. He had three hits, including a monster, two-run home run in the second inning, on Monday, and he's 9-for-11 with three homers over his past four games.
San Diego got a run back in the bottom of the third, when third baseman Cory Spangenberg created a run by himself. He smacked a hustle double into the right-center field gap, then stole third. The throw from catcher Willson Contreras hit William Myers, the batter, squarely in the back, and the ball ricocheted into the dugout allowing Spangenberg to score. (Myers was OK and remained in the game.)

That would be the only run allowed by Cubs starter John Lackey, who tossed three innings and struck out one.
As Lackey headed to the visitor's clubhouse, he stopped by the Padres' dugout to say hello to Jered Weaver, who was the right-hander's teammate on the Angels from 2006-09.
"It's kind of weird," Lackey said of their time together. "Some days it feels like it wasn't that long ago, and some days it feels like it was 100 years ago. We had a lot of good years. When he came up, I took care of him, and the last few years, he's been sending me cleats and stuff like that, hooking me up. It's kind of come full circle. He's a good buddy and I'm happy he's still going."
Contreras added an RBI double for the Cubs.

Padres starter Luis Perdomo surrendered two runs -- both on Happ's homer -- while striking out a pair over 3 2/3 frames. It was the second outing of the spring for Perdomo, who is a favorite for one of the two remaining rotation spots.
Cubs up next: Lefty Brett Anderson will make his second spring start -- and fourth appearance -- on Tuesday when the Cubs host the Brewers at Sloan Park at 3:05 p.m. CT. Anderson, who missed most of last season following back surgery, is the leading candidate for the fifth spot in the rotation.
Padres up next: The Padres have their second off-day of the spring Tuesday, before heading to Goodyear to face the Reds at 1:05 p.m. PT on Wednesday, live on MLB.TV. Clayton Richard will get the start for the Padres. Jarred Cosart is throwing on Tuesday's off-day.
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