Medica, Smith back Stults' solid start

MESA, Ariz. -- Tommy Medica smacked a two-run homer and Seth Smith drove in two runs to lift the Padres to a 7-1 victory over the Cubs on Monday night in front of 15,126 in the first night game at new Cubs Park.

It was the fourth crowd to top 15,000 at the ballpark, which set a Cactus League record of 15,243 on Thursday against the Mariners.

Carlos Villanueva, who could step in as the fifth starter for the Cubs, gave up three runs on three hits and three walks over four innings, striking out three.

Villanueva just shrugged off the outing.

"My stuff is crisp," Villanueva said. "I'm getting to the point where I feel confident I can get guys out, and I'm not making the mistakes I was early. I feel good, and can't wait for this thing to get started."

However, he's still not sure whether he'll be in the Cubs' bullpen or rotation once the regular season begins in one week.

"It's the same thing you guys know -- you probably know more than me," Villanueva said.

Nope. All Cubs manager Rick Renteria would say before the game was that the candidates for the job are "all still here." That includes Villanueva and lefty Chris Rusin.

"I'll probably have a locker tomorrow," Villanueva said. "It's basically the same -- prepare. Maybe tomorrow I'll hear something. I talked to [pitching coach Chris] Bosio after the game, and we feel good about where I am right now. It just gets a little boring going out there. It doesn't really count right now, so for me, at this stage of my career, I feel ready for the season."

Emilio Bonifacio tripled to lead off the Chicago first and scored on Donnie Murphy's groundout against San Diego starter Eric Stults. But the Padres tied it in the second when Jedd Gyorko singled and scored on Smith's double.

Medica, battling for a spot on the Padres' bench, broke the tie in the fourth. With two outs, Smith walked and Medica launched a 1-1 pitch from Villanueva into the left field berm.

Jose Veras, the Cubs' closer, was roughed up in the fifth. Everth Cabrera singled, Will Venable walked and Chase Headley followed with a RBI double. One out later, Gyorko was hit by a pitch, and Smith added an RBI single.

Stults, who will be the Padres' No. 4 starter, scattered five hits and walked one over 5 2/3 innings, striking out three.

"The last two starts he has thrown the ball well," Padres manager Bud Black said. "The first part of spring, he didn't feel real comfortable with his release point and he wasn't finishing his pitches. He wasn't quite getting out over his right side, but I think he cleaned that up in a couple of bullpen sessions and took it out to the game. Again, we talk about Stults and his wide variance of velocity and we saw that today.

"That's his trademark, his steadiness and consistency. We need that out him again. Last year he threw over 200 innings, and it would be fantastic if he did that again."

Padres closer Huston Street struck out two in a perfect ninth.

Up Next: Andrew Cashner will take the mound on Tuesday evening for his final Cactus League warm-up as the Padres host the Cubs at the Peoria Sports Complex at 7:05 PT in a game available on Gameday Audio. Cashner, who will make the club's Opening Day start against the Dodgers on Sunday, has a 2.84 ERA this spring, striking out eight and walking just one over 12 2/3 innings.