Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

The sixth call from the Padres this season might have opened the door to the Major Leagues for 26-year-old right-handed reliever Gerardo Reyes.

Things did not go well for the Mexican native during his first five stints with the Padres. After his first 18 Major League appearances, the 5-foot-11 Reyes -- who flirts with the 100-mph threshold -- had an 11.25 ERA. He had allowed 20 runs in 16 innings, giving up 17 hits and 11 walks with 23 strikeouts.

But since being recalled again on Sept. 3, Reyes has allowed one run on four hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts in six innings over five appearances.

The difference? Throwing strikes.

During his first five stints with the Padres, Reyes threw strikes 62 percent of the time. Since his return, he has thrown strikes on 73 percent of his pitches.

NOTEBOOK

• 1B Eric Hosmer homered for the Padres’ only run Thursday. It was his first homer in 75 at-bats since Aug. 28. Hosmer hasn’t had a multi-hit game since Sept. 2 and is only 9-for-57 (.158) since then with two doubles, a homer and six RBIs. His batting average has slipped from .288 to .275. Hosmer is four RBIs away from becoming the first Padre with 100 RBIs since Matt Kemp in 2015 and only the second in the past seven seasons.

• Like Hosmer, 3B Manny Machado has struggled since Sept. 2 -- going 6-for-52 (.115) with two homers and six RBIs and six runs scored. He has drawn 11 walks and been hit by two pitches.

• SS Luis Urías had two of the Padres’ five hits Thursday in Milwaukee. He has hit safely in 10 of his last 13 games, going 16-for-47 (.340) with three doubles, a homer, six RBIs, five runs scored and four walks to raise his batting average from .179 to .222.

• OF Wil Myers was 0-for-12 with eight strikeouts in four games in Milwaukee after going 5-for-12 with three doubles, his 18th homer and four RBIs in three games at Coors Field last weekend.

• LF Nick Martini is 2-for-14 since getting off to a 17-for-57 start with the Padres after being claimed off waivers from the A’s on Aug. 28.