Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
The Padres are now 6-3 in the first game of series this season. They are 4-4 in the second games of series heading into Tuesday night at Petco Park. But they are 0-8 in series finales and 0-1 in the third game of their only four-game series -- hence the 10-16 overall record.
The Padres are 18-5 against Colorado in the last 23 meetings of the National League West rivals at Petco Park. Padres pitchers have posted a 2.43 ERA in those 23 games and the bullpen has a 1.00 ERA.
The top three hitters in the Padres' lineup were a combined 6-for-12 Monday night. The bottom six hitters were 0-for-17 with three walks. The games ended with four regulars hitting under .200 -- third baseman Adam Rosales (.196), second baseman Jemile Weeks (.162), third baseman/pinch-hitter Brett Wallace (.154) and catcher Derek Norris (.145).
Padres starting pitchers have a 2.78 ERA over the last 19 games dating back to April 12. And over the last four starts, Padres starters have a 1.48 ERA, allowing four runs on 20 hits and nine walks with 19 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings.
Padres hitters have struck out 10 or more times in each of the last 10 games, averaging 12.1 strikeouts per game. Padres hitters have the third-highest strikeout total in the Major Leagues.
The Padres have won three of their last four games.
Notes from the scorebook
• Right-handed starter James Shields spotted his slow curve -- velocity between 60 and 65 mph -- Monday night that got two strikeouts. Shields used the pitch several times at the end of last season and has been working on it during bullpen sessions.
"I've thrown it a few times this year, but not like tonight," said Shields. "It's a nice change of pace."
With Monday night's win, Shields is 4-0 against the Rockies in four career starts against Colorado at Petco Park.
• Despite a 3.55 ERA going into Monday night's game, Shields was 0-4 and the Padres were 0-5 in his five starts. Shields entered the game with a 1.36 run support average that ranked as the second lowest among all Major League starting pitchers. When the Padres scored two in the first inning Monday night it marked only the second time this season that the Padres held a lead while Shields was pitching.
• Right fielder Matt Kemp had a decisive two-run double in the first inning Monday night and is 7-for-18 with three homers and 16 RBIs when hitting with runners in scoring position this season. Kemp has a career .314 average against the Rockies with 40 doubles, seven triples and 40 home runs. His 177 hits, doubles, home runs, 105 runs scored and 135 RBIs are the highest total by any active player against the Rockies.
• First baseman Will Myers is batting .364 (24-for-66) over his last 16 games with five doubles, three homers, 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored. He has hit safely in 15 of those games.