Johnson finishes strong before Padres rally to tie

PEORIA, Ariz. -- Michael Brantley continued his torrid spring by getting four hits Saturday, while the Padres staged a late rally to forge a 4-4 tie in 10 innings with the Indians at the Peoria Sports Complex.

Brantley, who will be the Indians' starting left fielder, had a run-scoring single in the first inning, another single in the third, a double in the fifth and another double in the seventh. He's hitting .615 this spring.

"I'm stating the obvious. He uses the whole field, and he's got a nice swing," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "I don't know if it matters what time of year it is. He's a good hitter."

Hoping to win a reserve infield job, Ryan Jackson, who had a triple and scored a run in the fifth inning for the Padres, hit the game-tying sacrifice fly in the ninth inning. Xavier Nady, who is trying to win a job on the Padres' bench and singled in the seventh, kept the ninth inning alive with his second single of the game.

After the Indians had built a 3-1 lead following a three-run first inning, the Padres tied the game in the seventh on two unearned runs, with Jonathan Galvez coming through on a two-out, two-run single. In the eighth, the Indians retook the lead after Brantley doubled and pinch-runner Tyler Naquin scored on Asdrubal Cabrera's double, his fourth at-bat.

"It was nice," said Francona of getting his players more at-bats. "Once we had that long first inning, I wanted them to get deeper into the game and get that fourth at-bat. They've been going every other day for the most part. In the next week or so, you'll see some guys play back-to-back games and start to get built up."

San Diego starting pitcher Josh Johnson allowed three runs on five hits in three innings, though all three runs and four of the hits came in the first inning, which included a lost fly ball in left field that extended the inning.

Johnson retired seven of the last eight hitters he faced, striking out three in the process.

"I made some good pitches, made some really close pitches, too." Johnson said. "They weren't called strikes, but I thought they were pretty close."

Cleveland's Carlos Santana, who is transitioning from catching to third base, drove in a run with a single in the three-run first inning. He also handled two ground balls cleanly for outs but was charged with an error on a throw in the seventh inning.

"I think the one thing not to forget is he's not the finished product," said Francona. "He's working really hard. If he can continue to get some rhythm -- at times, he'll catch the ball, and then he doesn't move his feet. He's got plenty of arm, and that's where you're seeing him scatter a ball every once in a while. It's still a work in progress. The good news is he's willing to work."

Indians starting pitcher Tyler Cloyd allowed two hits over two scoreless innings. Scott Atchison, who is trying to win a job in the Indians' bullpen, struck out two during his one scoreless inning. Nick Hagadone, who like Atchison is trying to win a job, was dinged for a run in the fifth inning. Bryan Shaw and Mike Zagurski also fanned two in a scoreless inning each.

Up next: The Padres head to Scottsdale on Sunday to face the D-backs at Salt River Fields. First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. PT, live on MLB.TV. Eric Stults will make his third start of the Cactus League season. He's allowed three runs in each of his first two starts on a combined six hits. He's also walked three batters. Stults, who is projected as the No. 5 starter, was behind seven of the eight hitters he faced in his last time out, which was also against the D-backs.