Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Jose Pirela hasn't hit a home run this season after hitting 10 in 312 at-bats last season.
     
Of course, all Padres fans are well aware of that fact.
     
But the 28-year-old Venezuelan is putting up some impressive offensive numbers, particularly since May 25.
     
Over his last 14 starts - 12 of which have been at second base - Pirela is hitting .346 (18-52) with four doubles, three RBIs and eight runs scored to raise his batting average from .260 to .346. He was 2-for-4 Friday night in Miami.
     
Also, Pirela has struck out only five times in those 52 at-bats.
    
Pirela is hitting .270 this season while playing second. He has also made only two errors since he started playing second base regularly at the end of April.
     
NOTEBOOK:
     
--There were two notable rehab pitching performances by right-handers at Double-A San Antonio Friday night: Colin Rea (8.27 ERA) pitched the best in his third rehab outing, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts in five innings. He threw 90 pitches. Reliever Phil Maton, who had his rehab shifted to Double-A after one outing with the Storm, allowed a hit with three strikeouts in two innings in his debut with the Missions. He threw 21 pitches.
     
--OF Hunter Renfroe has reached base in nine of the 10 games he's appeared in since returning from the disabled list on May 28. He is 9-for-27 (.333) with three doubles, a pinch-hit grand slam homer, seven RBIs, five runs scored and five walks. The five walks are one more than he had in 17 games before going on the disabled list April 21 with an inflamed elbow. Since his return, Renfroe has had a .438 on-base percentage and a .593 slugging percentage for a 1.030 OPS.
     
--LHP Eric Lauer's pick-off of Bryan Anderson Friday night was his sixth of the season - the highest total in the National League. His seven walks were the most by a Padres' pitcher since Tyson Ross walked seven Mariners on June 18, 2014.
     
--1B Eric Hosmer was 2-for-4 Friday night with a double. He has reached base in nine straight games against Miami.