Cabrera misses cycle but sparks Padres' win
PHOENIX -- Even the third time was not the charm for Everth Cabrera, who has finished one hit short of the first cycle in the San Diego's 45-year franchise history three times this season after coming close again Saturday night.
Cabrera drove in four runs and was a triple shy of the cycle in the Padres' 10-4 victory over Arizona at Chase Field after singling in the first inning and hitting a two-run homer in the third and a two-run double in the fourth.
"I was thinking about that triple," said Cabrera, who grounded out in the sixth and reached on an infield error in the ninth. "I put a good a swing on the ball. What could I do?"
Cabrera had four hits but was a double short of the cycle against Colorado on April 13 and was a triple short in a three-hit game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 17.
He has a career-high four home runs this season, one fewer than he had in his first four seasons combined, and leads the major leagues with 19 stolen bases. His steal in the first was the 100th of his career.
"I think the thing that we're impressed with, his coaches and his teammates, is the calm focus," San Diego manager Bud Black said.
"He's locked in both offensively and defensively, and you can see it in his play. He's playing loose yet inspired. He's playing with a high degree of energy but yet there's a rhythm to his game."
San Diego and Miami are the only two franchises that have never had a player hit for the cycle.
Padres right-hander Andrew Cashner (4-2) gave up four runs in the first three innings but only two hits in his final three innings for his third straight victory. He also singled in a run in a five-run fourth. He did not join the rotation until April 20.
Eric Chavez had a two-run homer, his sixth home run of the season, and drove in three runs for the Diamondbacks (27-22), who dropped into a three-way tie for the National League West lead with their third loss in four games.
Martin Prado and Gerardo Parra had three hits each for Arizona.
Padres catcher Nick Hundley singled twice, drove in a run and scored twice. He has three hits in six at-bats in the series after entering in a 3-for-42 slide.
San Diego (22-26) broke a three-game losing streak and has won nine of its last 12 games at Chase Field.
Yonder Alonso, Cashner and Chris Denorfia had run-scoring hits off Wade Miley in a five-run fourth, and Cabrera finished it off with a two-run double against reliever Tony Sipp. All the runs came with two outs.
"I'm more relaxed, especially the right side of the plate," said Cabrera, who homered from the right side off Miley and from the left side on Friday.
"When I hit the ball really hard, it was more like a line drive, but this year I have a better backspin on the ball and a better swing."
Miley gave up hits to four of the five batters he faced after being struck in the back of the left knee by a sharp grounder from Jedd Gyorko for the first out of the inning.
"It hurt a little, but it goes away. I just didn't make pitches again. It wasn't like I was throwing good and then that come-backer happened and then I threw bad. Just very inconsistent," Miley said.
Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said, "He just couldn't command his fastball, and these guys are a good fastball-hitting team. You leave it up over the plate and they get at it pretty good."
NOTES: San Diego LHP Clayton Richard is expected to rejoin the rotation for a Monday start against Seattle. "You could probably speculate that Clayton is going to pitch on Monday," Black said. Richard, 0-4 with an 8.54 ERA in six starts, has been on the disabled list with an intestinal virus since May 5. ... Arizona SS Didi Gregorius has made 19 consecutive starts, 18 while hitting second in the order, since being activated from the seven-day disabled list on May 5. He was hitting .323 during that stretch entering Saturday's game. ... San Diego CF Cameron Maybin began a rehab assignment at Class AAA Tucson on Friday but appears at least a week from returning to the major-league roster. Black said the Padres would like him to get at least 30 at-bats in the minors. Maybin underwent surgery for a right wrist impingement on April 17.
