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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs surged ahead early in a 6-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in the third of a four-game set at Wrigley Field on Wednesday.

How it happened: Former Cub and No. 1 draft pick Andrew Cashner started for the first time against Chicago. Cashner was traded to San Diego for first baseman Anthony Rizzo in 2011. Manager Dale Sveum started seven left-handed hitters in his lineup. Starlin Castro started the scoring with an RBI single that plated Julio Borbon in the first inning. Cubs starting pitcher Scott Feldman doubled in the second run, scoring Darwin Barney in the second inning. Cashner's pitch count (76 through three innings) skyrocketed in the third, thanks in large part to a two-run double by catcher Dioner Navarro. Cashner’s 89th pitch was an RBI groundout off the bat of Luis Valbuena. Nate Schierholtz doubled home the sixth run in the seventh inning. San Diego second baseman Jedd Gyorko hits his first major league home run to break up Feldman's shutout in the eighth. Chase Headley homered with one out in the ninth.

What it means: The Cubs have won six of their past nine games. With a win on Thursday, they can wrap up their second straight series victory. Feldman pitched his first career complete game as he records his second consecutive win while striking out 12. That matches his career high. After a rough beginning to the season, the veteran pitcher has been outstanding as of late.

Outside the box: Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said infielder Ian Stewart is not ready to return to the major leagues; he's rehabbing a leg injury in the minors. Teams can send a player out for only 20 days on a rehab assignment. “You can always get recertified if you are not healthy yet," Epstein said. "He has had some bumps and bruises along the way. We will just monitor it daily and see how he is doing.” … Another rehab began for the Cubs as RHP Matt Garza threw 42 pitches in 2⅔ innings at Double-A on Wednesday. Garza is rehabbing from a strained side muscle he injured on Feb. 17. Sveum said Garza will return to the team in between minor league starts. He also stated his pitcher would be re-evaluated after the third outing.

Up next: Chicago LHP Travis Wood (2-1, 2.25 ERA) faces Padres LHP Eric Stults (2-2, 5.67 ERA) in Thursday's series finale.

CINCINNATI – Here’s a quick look at the Cubs' 4-2 win in 10 innings over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night:

How it Happened: Darwin Barney hit a 10th-inning home run to break a 2-2 tie after the Reds tied it in the bottom of the ninth on a Joey Votto single off Carlos Marmol. The Cubs added one more as Dave Sappelt drove in Julio Borbon. Carlos Villanueva was masterful in allowing just two runs in 8.1 innings. On offense, Alfonso Soriano singled, then stole second and third on consecutive pitches in the second inning before coming home on a Scott Hairston sacrifice fly for the game’s first run. The next pitch, to newcomer Cody Ransom, left the yard in right center. The Reds pulled within one when Chris Heisey homered in the third inning, but Villanueva shut down the Reds down the rest of the way until the ninth, when he walked the leadoff man. Kevin Gregg struck out Votto with the tying runs on base for the save, and Marmol got the win.

What it Means: The bullpen blew another save and manager Dale Sveum will be second-guessed on his decision to pull Villanueva in favor of Marmol, who had pitched two innings the night before. His numbers against Votto are good, but Votto got the best of him, causing the Cubs' sixth blown save of the year. Still, the story of the night was Villanueva. He painted the corners all night long, mixing speeds from 60 to 90 mph. He walked two batters -- one after an error by Ransom -- then promptly induced a double-play grounder by Heisey. It was a masterful performance against a good hitting team but he just couldn’t finish -- or rather wasn’t allowed to. He left after throwing 99 pitches.

Ransom Debut: Ransom not only homered, but played a stellar third base. Even his errant throw to first in the seventh inning came after a diving stop. He had a few more of those and made a nice first impression.

What’s Next: The rubber game of the series comes Wednesday afternoon, when Jeff Samardzija faces off against Mat Latos.

MILWAUKEE -- It was an inauspicious start to Julio Borbon's career as a Chicago Cub as he was thrown out to end the game trying to steal second base in a 5-4 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

It was only minutes earlier the new Cub had arrived at Miller Park.

"Literally probably about five minutes before the game got over," Borbon said afterward. "They gave me the green light right away."

Borbon was claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers at about noon Friday and quickly packed his bags and left for Chicago. Arriving at O'Hare Airport at about the time the first pitch was thrown, he got into a car and made it to Miller Park as the ninth inning began.

"I ran a couple of sprints up and down the dugout and just went out there," Borbon said.

Borbon was used as a pinch-runner at first base for Dioner Navarro with two outs. Seconds later the game was over.

"If it happens tomorrow again, I'll be ready to do it," Borbon said.

But was he ready Friday?

Attempting to steal as the tying run in the ninth inning is a risky proposition on any day, but in Borbon's first game, just minutes after he arrived, it probably wasn't the best decision.

MILWAUKEE -- You might be wondering that’s up with the Chicago Cubs roster these days. After picking up left-handed outfielder Julio Borbon off waivers on Friday they currently employ six outfielders and five infielders, not including their catchers. That’s a little out of the ordinary.

“It’s another way of getting the organization stronger,” manager Dale Sveum said before his team played the Milwaukee Brewers Friday night. “He’s pretty much a .290 hitter with 600 at-bats in the big leagues. It’s a really nice pickup. You don’t have to trade or spend money. You just don’t find those assets on every corner.”

And isn’t that the answer right there? The Cubs are still in the acquiring assets mode, not the “roster needs to be balanced” mode. They aren’t saying this, but what’s the difference if there’s only one back-up infielder? If they get caught short for a game they aren’t going to lose a playoff bid, right?

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The Chicago Cubs claimed outfielder Julio Borbon off waivers from the Texas Rangers and designated infielder Alberto Gonzalez for assignment.

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