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Cashner makes first start against Arizona

Apr 5, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - Former first-round draft pick Andrew Cashner makes the first start of his major league career today when the Chicago Cubs host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle test of a three-game series at Wrigley Field.

The 19th pick of the 2008 draft out of Texas Christian University, Cashner reached the majors last season and pitched exclusively out of the bullpen - going 2-6 with 16 holds and a 4.80 earned run average in 54 1/3 innings across 53 appearances.

He made two brief outings against Arizona, yielding two hits and a run in two innings while striking out three batters and walking two.

In the minors, the 6-foot-6 Cashner made 39 starts in 43 appearances across three seasons (2008-10) - posting a combined 2.79 ERA and winning 10 of 17 decisions.

Big-league opponents hit .267 off him last season, while the Diamondbacks managed a .250 clip.

In Monday's series opener, Alfonso Soriano hit a solo homer and knocked in two, as Chicago earned a 4-1 win. Geovany Soto had a pair of doubles, a run batted in and a run scored, while Carlos Pena added a sacrifice fly for the Cubs, who dropped two of three to Pittsburgh over the weekend.

Randy Wells (1-0) picked up the win in six innings, allowing one run on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts. The right-hander finished 8-14 with a 4.26 ERA in 32 starts a season ago.

Carlos Marmol, who was charged with a blown save and took the loss in Sunday's 5-4 setback, recovered to lock this one down with a scoreless ninth.

Willie Bloomquist accounted for the offense with a homer for Arizona, which split the first two games of the season against the Rockies. Sunday's game at Colorado was postponed due to a mix of rain and snow.

Joe Saunders (0-1) was tagged with the loss for yielding two runs on five hits over six innings. He struck and three and walked three. The 29-year-old went 3-7 with a 4.25 earned run average in 13 starts for Arizona last year after being acquired from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in July.

Tonight, the Diamondbacks go with second-year right-hander Barry Enright, who'll make his second career start against the Cubs in his 18th big-league outing.

The 24-year-old was 6-7 in 17 starts with Arizona last season after he was selected in the second round of the 2007 draft out of Pepperdine University.

He took a 6-4 loss after allowing seven hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings against the Cubs on July 6, 2010 in Phoenix.

Enright was 6-2 with a 2.45 ERA through his initial 12 rookie starts, then dropped five straight starts to end the season between Sept. 7-30.

Chicago was 6-1 against the D'Backs last season.