Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Left-handed starter Clayton Richard extended two streaks on Saturday night in Pittsburgh -- his performance over his last three starts and his performance outside the National League West.
Richard was two-thirds of an inning short of becoming the first Padres starter to go eight innings in three straight starts since Brian Lawrence went eight innings in four straight starts in 2003.
However, Richard allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks with two strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings to pick up his second straight win.
Over his last three starts, Richard has allowed seven runs on 19 hits and one walk with 20 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings, posting a 2.70 ERA and 0.86 WHIP. His season ERA has lowered from 6.21 to 4.87 in that span. 

In five starts against teams from outside the NL West this season, Richard has allowed 11 runs on 31 hits and five walks with 28 strikeouts in 37 innings, posting a 2.68 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.
In five starts against NL West teams this season, Richard has given up 23 runs (22 earned) on 33 hits and 16 walks with 24 strikeouts in 24 innings, posting an 8.63 ERA and 2.04 WHIP.
Notes
•The Padres have won five of their last seven games and are 9-8 in May. They are 15-2 this season when they score first.
• Outfielder Travis Jankowski was 3-for-5 with two stolen bases and a game-ending diving catch Saturday night. Since being recalled from Triple-A El Paso on April 29, Jankowski is hitting .390 with a .471 on-base percentage and a .508 slugging percentage. When hitting in the leadoff spot, Jankowski is hitting .412 (21-for-51) with eight walks (a .492 on-base percentage), seven steals and 11 runs scored. He also has a .549 slugging percentage out of the No. 1 hole.
• Second baseman Jose Pirela was 1-for-4 with his 11th double and two RBIs Saturday night after missing his first start of the season Friday night. He has started 46 of the Padres' 47 games at three different positions.
• Since ending his franchise-record 0-for-37 streak Monday, third baseman Christian Villanueva has gone 5-for-12 with a double, two homers, four RBIs and two runs scored.
• Cory Spangenberg was 0-for-8 as a pinch-hitter before his ninth-inning homer Saturday night. He had struck out in his previous three pinch-hit appearances and four of his last five going into Saturday.