SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Nick Hundley, whose hitting skills the Giants coveted, belted a pair of home runs and lifted San Francisco to a 5-3 Cactus League victory Tuesday over the San Diego Padres.
Hundley's three-run homer off Kevin Quackenbush in the seventh inning erased San Diego's 2-1 lead. Hundley also homered in the second inning for San Francisco's lone hit in five innings off Padres starter Trevor Cahill.
Giants general manager Bobby Evans specifically cited Hundley's power as one of the backup catcher's strengths when San Francisco signed him as a free agent in late January. Hundley hit 10 home runs in each of the previous two seasons with Colorado.
Another notable slugger was non-roster invitee Chris Marrero, who has a team-high six home runs (including the March 8 Puerto Rico exhibition). Marrero homered in the eighth for the Giants' final run. Marrero said that despite his power, a quality the Giants lack, he knows he must master the game's subtler facets, such as defense, to make the team. "It's (part of) being in the National League. You've got to play defense," said Marrero, adding that he also has worked on sharpening his baserunning.
Meanwhile, Cahill strengthened his bid for a spot in San Diego's starting rotation while walking two and striking out seven. Cahill entered the game with a 5.79 ERA, contrasting his opponents' .216 batting average.
"I've felt pretty good all camp," Cahill said. "It's nice to get a good one under your belt and sit down and get back up five different times. So I feel like I'm close [to being ready for the regular season]."
Giants starter Madison Bumgarner worked only two shutout innings against the Padres before retreating to the bullpen to increase his workload under controlled, simulated conditions. Ty Blach, competing for the No. 5 starter's spot, worked three innings and allowed one run on Erick Aybar's fifth-inning RBI single.
Padres Up Next:Jered Weaver will make his third start of the spring Wednesday when the Padres head to Surprise to face the Royals at 1:05 p.m. PT on MLB.TV. He will be looking to work up to five innings. Brandon Maurer, Ryan Buchter and Brad Hand -- the trio expected to anchor the back end of the Padres' bullpen -- are also scheduled to pitch.
Giants Up Next:Player Page for Matt Cain, striving to remain in the Giants' pitching rotation as its No. 5 starter, will confront the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday in a 1:05 p.m. PT encounter. Albert Suarez also is expected to pitch for the Giants.
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