Blash drives in five to lead Padres over Giants
PEORIA, Ariz. -- Jabari Blash homered and knocked in five runs Tuesday, as the Padres rallied for their first Cactus League win, a 9-5 victory over the Giants.
Stating his case for an outfield spot on the Opening Day roster, Blash tied the game with a three-run moonshot into the Giants bullpen in the bottom of the fourth. He tacked on a go-ahead RBI single two innings later.
"He made an adjustment in the cage with [hitting coach] Alan Zinter today, and looked on time on an upper 90s fastball," said Padres manager Andy Green. "That's exciting to see because there's a ton of potential inside of him, and that's a positive step."
Making his second start of the spring, Madison Bumgarner cruised through a scoreless first before giving up two runs in the second. Padres catcher Austin Hedges -- serving as the designated hitter Tuesday -- ignited the rally with a leadoff double. Hedges finished 2-for-3 and now has six hits in eight Cactus League at-bats.
"He was kind of proud himself that first inning," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of Bumgarner. "He said, 'I think that's the first 1-2-3 inning that I have had here in five years.' He felt pretty good. He came in said, 'Wow, I got a 1-2-3 in Spring Training.'"
The Giants responded right away with a four-run third, sparked by a Joe Panik single and a Brandon Crawford double. That edge lasted until the fourth, when Blash's blast evened the score.
Padres right-hander Jhoulys Chacin tossed two innings of one-run ball in his club debut. He'll make one more start for the Friars before joining Team Venezuela for the World Baseball Classic.
Giants Up Next: The Giants will send Player Page for Matt Cain to the mound against the Dodgers Wednesday night at Scottsdale Stadium at 5:05 p.m. PT. Cain will be followed by Ty Blach, who is also competing against him for the fifth spot in the rotation. Joan Gregorio and George Kontos are also scheduled to pitch in the night game.
Padres Up Next: The Padres will play a split-squad doubleheader Wednesday, with right-hander Trevor Cahill debuting against the A's in Peoria at 12:10 p.m. PT. Paul Clemens will face Colorado in Scottsdale at the same time. Christian Bethancourt -- who is being converted into a pitcher/catcher hybrid this spring -- will make his first appearance on a Cactus League mound in the latter innings against Oakland.
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