Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Even Padres manager Andy Green seems perplexed when it comes to closer Brandon Maurer's Jekyll-and-Hyde season, which took another strange -- but partially expected -- turn Sunday afternoon at Petco Park.
When it comes to saving games, Maurer has an above-average conversion rate. He has saved games in 14 of his 16 chances and has a 4.29 earned run average as a closer, allowing seven runs on nine hits and two walks with 13 strikeouts in 14 2/3 innings as a closer.
But all seven of the runs Maurer has allowed in save situations have come during his two blown saves. He has also converted nine straight saves while allowing one hit and one walk over nine innings.
However, Sunday was another case of the flip side.
Working in a non-save situation in the ninth inning of a tie game, Maurer gave up two runs on two hits and a walk and suffered the loss to Detroit.
Maurer is 0-4 on the win-loss category. Three of those losses have come in non-save situations where Maurer has a 8.62 earned run average -- allowing 15 runs on 23 hits and five walks with 12 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.
"When you look at the statistics, there is something to it," said Padres manager Andy Green. "But he's pitched remarkably well in save situations."
"When he's come out to close a game, he's been very, very good. When he's coming into situations to keep a tie or even in mop up situations, I think he's had some adversity in those situations."
"What you pin that on, I'm not quite sure to be honest. His stuff was good today."
Worth noting:
• CF Manuel Margot was 1-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and two walks Sunday for Triple-A El Paso. Margot, who has been out since May 27 with a right calf strain, is 3-for-20 on his rehab assignment. But the rookie who has been playing center in his absence is struggling. Franchy Cordero is hitless in his last 25 at-bats with 17 strikeouts as his average has plunged from .313 to .233.
• 1B William Myers hit his 15th homer in the first inning Sunday and finished 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. He has reached base safely in 11 of his last 12 games, but is hitting only .275 (11-for-40) with a double, three homers, eight RBIs and 14 walks. He is 3-for-14 since Yangervis Solarte was injured last Tuesday night in Chicago.
• INF-OF Allen Cordoba has swelling in his left hand after being hit by a pitch Saturday night. X-rays were negative and Córdoba is able to make a fist. But he wasn't scheduled to play Sunday ahead of Monday's off day.
• LHP Clayton Richard couldn't hold a pair of multi-run leads Sunday and allowed five runs on nine hits and two walks with three strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. "I knew going into the game this wasn't the best matchup for Clayton," said Green.