SAN DIEGO -- The old Brandon Pfaadt may just be back.
The Diamondbacks optioned Pfaadt to Triple-A Reno to both get his pitch count built back up as a starter, but also to try and locate the form that just a year ago had the organization looking at him as a foundational piece.
Pfaadt dominated the Padres' lineup, tossing five scoreless innings while allowing just four hits and did not walk a batter. He struck out six as the Diamondbacks rolled to an 8-0 win at Petco Park.
In two starts since returning from Reno, Pfaadt has allowed one earned run over 10 1/3 innings pitched.
Pfaadt got plenty of run support early, with the Diamondbacks scoring a pair of runs in the first inning and then another four in the third, three of which came on a Max Kepler homer.