Pomeranz developing into Padres' top starter
Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
In eight starts this season, Padres left-hander Drew Pomerenz has allowed three homers and 10 runs.
Giants right fielder Hunter Pence has hit two of those three homers and driven in four of those 10 runs.
Pence's two-run homer in the top of the fourth Wednesday night at Petco Park was not only the decisive blow in San Francisco's 2-1 win, it ended a run of 18 straight scoreless innings pitched by Pomeranz.
The 18-inning scoreless streak was the longest by a Padres pitcher in a single season since Andrew Cashner worked 18 straight scoreless innings from Sept. 9-20, 2014.
Pomeranz has a 1.96 ERA on the season, and he is 3-3 over his past six starts with a 1.54 ERA with 41 strikeouts against 22 hits and 15 walks with 41 strikeouts in 35 innings. Pomeranz owns a 2-1 record in three starts at Petco Park with a 1.02 ERA.
Overall, Pomeranz is part of a strong run by Padres pitchers over the club's last 29 games.
Since April 29, the Padres pitching staff has a 2.75 ERA while the starters have a 3.05 ERA over the span.
Notes from the scorebook
• Left-handed setup reliever Ryan Buchter worked a scoreless inning Wednesday night and has 17 straight scoreless appearances since allowing a run on April 8 in his third outing with the Padres. With Pomeranz's run of 18 straight scoreless innings ending Wednesday, Buchter's active run of 16 1/3 straight scoreless innings is the longest active run by a Padres pitcher. Over his last 17 appearances, Buchter has given up five hits and eight walks with 21 strikeouts. His ERA is down to 0.47.
• Matt Kemp's 10th homer of the season in the ninth inning Tuesday night was only the 11th by a Padres player to reach the third deck of the Western Metal Supply Co. building in left. Khalil Greene is the only Padres player to reach the second deck twice.
• Third baseman Brett Wallace is 5-for-10 in his last three games with two doubles and a solo home run to raise his batting average from .180 to .225.
• Left fielder Melvin Upton Jr. is hitting .321 (17-for-53) thus far in May. He has three doubles and three homers this month for five RBIs.