Cashner throws 3 hitless innings, Padres top winless Cubs

MESA, Ariz. (AP) Andrew Cashner pitched three hitless innings, Will Middlebrooks had a three-run homer and the San Diego Padres beat the winless Chicago Cubs 6-3 Monday.

Cashner struck out three and walked one.

After the outing, Padres manager Bud Black walked with Cashner to the clubhouse to inform him of a personal matter that happened back in Texas.

Black didn't disclose any details regarding the Texas native.

''He is doing well baseball-wise. He threw the ball well,'' Black said. ''He has a personal matter back in Texas that I had to inform him of, so that's why I went in with Cash.''

Black said he didn't know if Cashner would be in camp Tuesday.

The Cubs, full of high hopes this season under new manager Joe Maddon, and Milwaukee are the only teams that haven't won in exhibition play this year.

Cubs starter Edwin Jackson allowed four runs, all unearned because of two errors, but was hit hard in his spring debut. Middlebrooks homered off him in the second inning.

Jackson caused his own trouble by throwing a possible double-play comebacker into center field.

''You get in the game and get your first taste of real adrenaline and you speed it up,'' he said. ''You should take an extra step and make good throw to second base and get two outs right there.''

Miguel Montero and Mike Olt hit home runs for the Cubs.

STARTING TIME

Padres: Cashner threw around 35 pitches. ''He had a good delivery and repeated it,'' Black said. ''He was efficient.''

Cubs: Jackson said he isn't worried about his spot even though there is no clear-cut role for him despite two more years on his contract.

''Where do I stand?'' said Jackson, who went 6-15 with a 6.33 ERA last season. ''We will see. Time will tell. It's the first game of the spring and there is a long way to go. I'm not pressing or stressing about a game. It's something to build off of.''

TRAINER's ROOM

Padres: The results of the MRI on backup catcher candidate Tim Federowicz showed a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. He played in Sunday's game and felt some discomfort. Black said surgery is likely, but it depends on the significance of the tear.

Cubs: LHP Tsuyoshi Wada, vying for the fifth starter spot, left Sunday's outing with left leg discomfort that Maddon said could push back his next appearance. It is a separate issue from the leg problems that slowed him early in camp.

TIME TO RELAX

Cubs prospect Javier Baez is off to a slow start at the plate, going 0 for 8 with four strikeouts, and might be pressing, Maddon said.

''He's thinking too much,'' Maddon said. ''He's getting a lot of information from a lot of us, and I think at some point sometimes it's our fault. I just want us to leave him alone and let him play.''

Baez, who had a day off on Monday, is attempting to make the transition to everyday major leaguer after he struck out 95 times and hit .169 in 213 after being called up on Aug. 5.

''I was just trying to work and trying to make contact, and I was worrying too much about the mechanics,'' Baez said. ''That's why I was completely lost. But we'll see how it goes tomorrow.''

UP NEXT

Cubs LHP Travis Wood starts against Cleveland.