GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Manny Machado will play in one more Cactus League game on Friday before departing for the World Baseball Classic. A third day in a row on his feet should provide a good base as he wades into meaningful games in next month’s tournament. His timing, however, appears to be rounding into form.

The 33-year-old third baseman collected his first two hits of the spring in the Padres’ 11-10 loss to the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark on Thursday. The first was a two-run, game-tying shot to left-center off left-hander Nick Sando in the third inning. The second was a game-tying grand slam off right-hander Graham Ashcraft to straight-away center in the sixth inning.

Machado had been 0-for-5 with three walks after a first-inning free pass when he homered in the second at-bat of his fourth Cactus League game on Thursday.

“The body feels good,” Machado said. “I think that’s the most important (thing).”

Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. played a second straight road game on Friday and third straight game overall, part of their plan with input from Team Dominican Republic ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Xander Bogaerts will also play Friday’s road game in Scottsdale and another game after that before leaving on March 1 to join Team Netherlands.

“(Manny) wanted the at-bats; he wants a few more at-bats,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “He’s been working with his swing a little bit, getting in the right spot today, clicked a little bit. So, you know, as long as tomorrow clicks, he’s in good shape.”

Pivetta’s debut

Nick Pivetta got his work in Thursday, throwing 38 pitches (22 strikes) over two innings in his Cactus League debut before a healthy exit.

But Pivetta walked two batters and allowed three runs, all scoring on Will Banfield’s bases-loaded double. It was one of three hits he allowed.

All of it’s easy to shrug off when building endurance is the goal for an established pitcher like Pivetta, who very well could be the opening day starter after a career year in 2025.

“Felt good, body feels healthy,” Pivetta said. “I think that’s the most important thing. I would like to command the strike zone a little bit better and put away that guy hit the double. But other than that, just to come away healthy, feeling good, strong, happy with that.”

Matsui’s disappointment

Team Japan officially replaced left-hander Yuki Matsui on its World Baseball Classic roster on Thursday with Chunichi left-hander Yumeto Kanemaru. The move had been expected since Matsui cut a live batting practice short last week after about 20 pitches due to groin tightness.

Matsui is back to playing catch but not yet throwing off the mound, meaning his readiness for opening day is far from set.

And that was his priority.

“It’s pretty disappointing,” Matsui said through interpreter Ike Ogata. “I didn’t do so well at the last WBC and I was looking forward to playing for this one. But that’s not the only thing. It’s baseball, and I’m kind of trying to move on to get the best preparation for the season and play for the Padres.”

While he pitched in earlier pool play, Matsui appeared in just one game in the final stages of the 2023 tournament. Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki did the heavy lifting in Team Japan’s championship run.

Matsui, 30, has a 3.98 ERA through his first two years in the majors.

Notable

RHP Matt Waldron (hemorrhoid surgery) is back in Padres camp and playing catch but is without a specific timeline. “As far as moving around, running, fielding, all that kind of stuff, probably not yet,” Stammen said. “That’ll come when he starts feeling a little bit better and ready to move around a little bit more.”