Garcia Looks Solid In Padres' 6-2 Win Over Giants

Freddy Garcia made his best start of the Spring last night when he took on the Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Prior to last night's game, the 36-year-old had a Spring ERA of 13.50, having given up 10 earned runs in 6 2/3 innings over his first three starts. Last night he looked like a completely different pitcher. He struck out five of the first six batters he faced and held the Giants hitless until the third inning when Johnny Monell hit a pinch-hit home run, which ended up being the only run he would allow. Garcia ended his night with three hits, one walk, and six strikeouts over four innings of work.

The bullpen combined for one run, four hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Kevin Quackenbush, Arturo Lopez, Daniel Stange, and Joe Thatcher each pitched a scoreless inning. Brad Brach closed out the game, allowing the Giants' second run of the game in the 9th, but it wasn't enough to overcome Padres hitting.

Tim Lincecum, who made just his second start of the Spring, kept the Padres off the board in his first two innings of work. But in the top of the 3rd everything started to unravel. Everth Cabrera hit a one-out single, promptly stole second base, and then reached third on a passed ball. Alexi Amarista hit a one-out single of his own to bring Cabrera home. The next batter, Mark Kotsay, continued his impressive Spring campaign with a triple to score Amarista. At that point, Steve Edlefsen took over for Lincecum. After a walk to Jesus Guzman to put runners at the corners, he struck out Yonder Alonso for the second out of the game. In the same play, Guzman was caught stealing, but not before Mark Kotsay was able to score the third run of the inning.

Padres would add two more in the 5th off George Kontos. Cabrera hit another one-out single, then once again stole second and reached third on an error as Amarista struck out swinging. Kotsay got a base on balls and Guzman followed with a 2-out 2-RBI double. An insurance run in the 6th via Cody Ransom's first homer of the Spring would give San Diego six runs on the night.