PHOENIX (AP) — Seth Smith had a two-run double among his three hits, and the Oakland Athletics scored three unearned runs off Paul Maholm in the first inning and beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in a game between split squads Saturday.

Cubs catcher Geovany Soto, playing in just his fifth game of the spring, homered on the first pitch of the fourth inning, and former Oakland outfielder David DeJesus tripled and scored in the first.

Maholm allowed three runs — none earned — on two hits, walking two and striking out three. A’s starter Travis Schlichting, making his first start after three relief appearances in spring training, allowed a run on two hits in three innings.

Soto added a double, but teammate Marlon Byrd was thrown out at home on the sixth-inning hit.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.