SAN DIEGO -- While Robbie Erlin was expecting to make a start on Saturday night, he never thought it would be in the major leagues.
Erlin (1-0) won his first major league start after being called up to help a depleted staff, Everth Cabrera had three hits and two RBIs, and the San Diego Padres beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 for the second time Saturday.
Scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Tucson on Saturday, Erlin was instead needed by the Padres because scheduled starter Clayton Richard was forced to pitch two innings in relief in the Padres' 17-inning, 4-3 win that began Friday night and ended early Saturday.
"At midnight last night, I got the call that I was flying here instead," Erlin said. "I was actually on my way to Phoenix because the Tucson Padres were flying out of there, so it was a little change to my schedule."
Erlin, a left-hander, made two appearances in his previous stint with San Diego earlier this season, but started for the first time and allowed two runs over 6 2-3 innings. He gave up eight hits and struck out four while not issuing a walk.
"I'd say it was helpful, because I knew what to expect," Erlin said of making his debut earlier in the season. "Everything was more familiar. I was surprisingly calm. It just came down to executing pitches."
San Diego improved to 15-6 in its last 21 games at Petco Park, and the Padres have won four of their last five at home.
"It really worked out," Padres manager Bud Black said. "Based on last night's game and having Clayton have to pitch last night, it fell on Robbie's day today. That is something that you don't plan, but when it works out, you feel fortunate."
Both of Cabrera's run-scoring hits were infield singles. In the second inning, Cabrera reached on a groundball up the third base line that Toronto starter Mark Buehrle fielded and threw wide past first base.
"I think I hesitated a second, looked up and realized Edwin (Encarnacion) was charging. By the time I turned and threw it, I was off balance," said Buehrle, who has won four straight Gold Gloves.
Buehrle (2-4) had not committed an error since 2011 and has only three since 2008. He allowed four runs -- three earned -- and a season-high 10 hits over six innings while striking out two and walking one.
"You're coming in knowing the bullpen is worn out and you want to go as deep as you can," Buehrle said. "But today was one of those days. I didn't have much. I had to battle through the whole game."
Adam Lind had two hits against Erlin, including a solo homer in the fourth. Lind also had a hit taken away by a diving catch by left fielder Carlos Quentin in the sixth.
"We swung the bats really well," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "But we got beat by a couple of infield hits. That's baseball. That happens sometimes."
Luke Gregerson allowed a run in the ninth but converted his first save in two opportunities. Gregerson filled in for closer Huston Street, who earlier in the day was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf muscle.
NOTES: No Padres player before Cabrera has driven in two runs on infield hits. . Buehrle has not allowed a home run in five straight starts after giving up 11 homers in his first seven games. The loss was Buerhle's first against San Diego in three career starts. ... Richard will start Tuesday in Los Angeles. ... RHP Ramon Ortiz (1-2, 5.01) will start on Sunday for Toronto after being recalled prior to Saturday's game when Brandon Morrow was placed on the DL with a forearm strain. ... RHP Edinson Volquez (4-5, 5.20) starts for San Diego on in the series finale on Sunday.
