Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Padres rookie right-hander Dinelson Lamet picked up another fan Wednesday night in Cardinals manager - and former Major League catcher Mike Matheny.
"Their starter was so good tonight that it was some of the best stuff we have seen this year," Matheny said after the Cardinals 3-1 win at Petco Park.
"There were not a lot of mistakes made."
But the one made by Lamet was huge. He threw a high inside fastball on the inside of the plate to Stephen Piscotty in the seventh that the Cardinals right fielder drove into the left-center seats for a decisive two-run homer.
Lamet allowed two runs on three hits and four walks with eight strikeouts Wednesday night.
He has allowed three runs or less in each of his nine outings since July 23 with a 4-3 record and a 2.55 earned run average.
Over his last three starts, Lamet has allowed four runs on 13 hits and 10 walks with 23 strikeouts in 18 innings for a 2.00 ERA.
NOTE WORTHY:
• RHP Miguel Diaz allowed one hit and three walks with six strikeouts over four scoreless innings in relief of Travis Wood Tuesday. The appearance was the first for the 22-year-old Rule 5 rookie since lasting just 2 1/3 innings in his third start on June 21. He went on the disabled list two days later with a forearm strain and hadn't pitched in 10 games since being reactivated on Aug. 29. The appearance was also the longest of Diaz's career and the six strikeouts were also a career best. "I was very encouraged by his outing," Padres manager Andy Green said of Diaz. "He was consistently at 94 to 97."
• RHP Craig Stammen had two strikeouts in a perfect inning in relief for Lamet Wednesday night. In 24 appearances since July 5, Stammen has allowed three earned runs in 27 1/3 innings for a 0.99 earned run average.

• LHP Travis Wood didn't pitch particularly well Tuesday night, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits - including two home runs - and a walk in two-plus innings. But he did tie a franchise record with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. Wood became only the third Padres pitcher to homer in back-to-back starts, joining Mike Corkins (1973) and Tim Lollar (1982). The home run was the 11^th of Wood's career. The outing was the third-shortest of Wood's career.
• INF Yangervis Solarte homered for the Padres lone run Wednesday night. It was his career-high 16^th homer of the season. But Solarte hasn't had a multi-hit game since Aug. 22. Over the last 15 games, Solarte is 8-for-51 (.157).
• LHP Robbie Erlin, who has missed the entire season rehabbing from "Tommy John" surgery, pitched a simulated game at Petco Park Wednesday and will continue throwing in the Arizona Instructional League and possibly winter ball.
• RHP Jordan Lyles will remain a starter as the Padres go to a six-man rotation. In his first start as a Padre in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers, Lyles allowed two runs on six hits and four walks with three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.