Major League Baseball

Athletics 6, Padres 2

Published Mar. 9, 2011 12:20 a.m. ET

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Oakland manager Bob Geren is looking for an opening-day starter, and Trevor Cahill is making quite the case for the job.

Cahill pitched four scoreless innings in the Athletics' 6-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.

''I was able to get some kind of rhythm going,'' Cahill said. ''I threw sinkers away from both right- and left-handed hitters and threw a few changeups in there. I'm also getting better command of my fastball.''

The right-hander, who turned 23 on March 1, allowed one hit with no walks or strikeouts. He threw 49 pitches, then went to the bullpen for 15 more.

''He threw outstanding,'' Geren said. ''He had a low pitch count. He is right where we want for him to be.''

Cahill also showed his agility when he dodged the barrel of Jesus Guzman's broken bat in the fourth inning.

''That shrapnel ... I was hoping there weren't any other pieces that I didn't see,'' Cahill said.

Left-handers Gio Gonzalez, Dallas Braden and Brett Anderson also are in the mix to start April 1 against Seattle, but Cahill went 18-8 with a 2.97 ERA last season and made the All-Star team.

''Trevor has pitched well, Gio has been lights-out, Braden has pitched an opener before and Anderson has great stuff,'' Geren said. ''It's good to have those kinds of options.''

Cahill even showed his agility Tuesday when he dodged the barrel of Jesus Guzman's broken bat in the fourth inning.

Infielder Andy LaRoche also had a nice day for Oakland. LaRoche, in camp on a minor league contract, hit his second homer in as many games and No. 3 for the spring. He also had an infield hit and made a few nice defensive plays while playing all nine innings at first base.

''We knew that coming in that he had power potential,'' Geren said. ''We are just trying him everywhere.''

Tim Stauffer struck out five in four innings for San Diego, yielding two unearned runs and two hits.

''He changed speeds well, he had good sink on his pitches,'' Padres manager Bud Black said. ''We had him go four today, probably a little longer next time out.''

NOTES: Anthony Recker and Michael Taylor also homered for the A's. ... Oakland RHP Brad Ziegler continues to pitch well. He struck out three in the seventh to pick up the win. ... Oakland's Ryan Sweeney is scheduled to make his first start in right field on Wednesday against Texas after having season-ending surgery on his right knee on July 30.

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