New delivery works for Silva

PEORIA, Ariz. – Carlos Silva looks forward to coming to the ballpark these days.

Silva threw three scoreless innings after making an adjustment during a bullpen session, helping the Cubs beat the San Diego Padres, 8-7, on Thursday.

Silva, acquired from Seattle for Milton Bradley and cash in December, allowed four hits, walked one and struck out none.

“I was excited to be in there again,” Silva said. “To be honest, the last two years have been hard for me to show up at the stadium.”

Silva said he was adjusting to a new element in his delivery which changes the landing zone for his left foot and forces him to throw more across his body. The right-hander tried the change this week during a session with pitching coach Larry Rothschild.

“I’ve got to keep working to get more consistent,” Silva said. “The change allows me to finish my pitch. I can see the difference. I haven’t had that sinker action in a long time.”

Silva signed a $48 million, four-year contract with Seattle before the 2008 season but went 5-18 with a 6.81 ERA in two seasons with the Mariners. He allowed six runs and seven hits over two innings in his first start this spring Saturday against the White Sox.

Starlin Castro, one of the Cubs’ top prospects, had two hits and scored three times. The shortstop hit his first homer of the spring in the fifth.

Jon Garland pitched 12⁄3 innings for the Padres, yielding four runs and three hits. He struck out two and walked three.

Garland, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Padres in January, said he felt strong and was getting good action on his sinkerball. The right-hander said several of his offerings just missed, but he was not concerned.

“I would rather take what I just did than have scoreless innings with how my arm feels and with my movement,” he said.

Tim Stauffer, competing for one of two open spots in the Padres’ rotation, allowed one run in three innings of relief.