PHOENIX -- If one spring training game is any indication, there will be no World Baseball Classic hangover for Jake Peavy this time.
Peavy pitched six scoreless innings in his first outing since returning from the WBC, and Scott Hairston hit two homers to lead the Padres to a 5-2 victory over Oakland on Friday night, the ninth consecutive loss for the Athletics.
"I felt good," Peavy said. "I'm satisfied that I was able to command the pitches that I commanded. ... I'm ready to go."
Peavy gave up two hits. He did not walk a batter and he struck out seven. This year is Peavy's chance to quiet critics of the WBC, particularly those who said that his struggles in 2006 were related to pitching in the event.
"I had some shoulder stiffness and missed some time [in '06]," Peavy said. "Guys get hurt all the time in spring, whether they did or didn't pitch in the WBC. If I get asked again in 2013, I'd do it again. It was an unbelievable experience."
Shawn Hill followed Peavy to the mound and gave up two runs, on homers by Nomar Garciaparra and Jack Cust, in his Padres debut.
Desperate for starting pitching, the Padres signed Hill to a minor league deal March 23, after he was released by the Nationals. Hill is 7-15 in 37 major league games, all starts, but is unlikely to build up enough pitches to immediately make the Padres rotation.
He could break camp as a reliever.
The A's started their projected opening day lineup for the first time all spring, with third baseman Eric Chavez making his defensive debut. Chavez and second baseman Mark Ellis, who made his defensive debut Wednesday, had been limited for most of the spring while rehabbing from shoulder surgeries.
In five innings in the field, Chavez made two strong throws with no problems. He fielded one ground ball, spinning 360 degrees before firing to first. He also made a relay to the plate on a throw from center field, but went hitless in two at-bats, with a strikeout and a flyout.
Chavez said his arm felt good throwing and he felt like he saw the ball well at the plate. He said he's optimistic about being ready for opening day.
"I can't say for sure, but that's definitely still my goal and the staff's goal, to get me ready for opening day," Chavez said.
A's starter Trevor Cahill pitched three scoreless innings, then got touched for four runs in the fourth. The 21-year-old prospect saw his chances at making the rotation improve when the A's announced that Justin Duchscherer would have elbow surgery.
A native of the San Diego area, Cahill admitted he was overthrowing because of the excitement of getting close to making the majors, plus facing his hometown team and Peavy.
"It was a cool experience," Cahill said. "I grew up watching him. To pitch against him is unbelievable. ... I think I got a little excited and tried to do too much."
Notes
Before the game, new Padres owner Jeff Moorad addressed players and coaches in a meeting at the team's complex in Peoria. ... OF Cliff Floyd is going to be out a few days after aggravating a right shoulder injury on Wednesday. The Padres had scheduled no further tests or exams for Floyd. ... A's LHP Dallas Braden allowed one run in five innings in a minor-league game. Braden is in line to be the A's opening night starter, although the club has not announced it. "When the season starts I'll get the ball every fifth day, in Oakland or Sacramento or in independent ball," Braden said. "I don't count my chickens before they are hatched. If I go to Anaheim and see my nameplate on a locker, I'll know I made the team. If they give me the ball on opening day, I'll know I'm the opening day starter." ... RHP Joey Devine pitched in his first game since March. 4. He had been out since then because of a sore elbow. He pitched one inning and gave up a run.
