Padres have long day before Colorado series

CINCINNATI -- The Padres played in their second doubleheader of the season on Thursday against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. The first was a twin bill against the Indians in Cleveland on April 9, in which they split the two games.

Outfielder Will Venable has been in doubleheaders before, but not quite like the one he was part of Thursday, where San Diego would have to jump on a plane and head to Colorado to open a weekend set against the Rockies after concluding a long day in Cincinnati.

"As far as a split doubleheader like this on a travel day, I'm not sure that I've had that before," Venable said. "I've had a doubleheader, but not one like this where we have time in between [the first game was scheduled for 12:35 p.m. ET and the second for 6:10 p.m. ET]. So I don't know how it's all gonna play out, but it's gonna be a late night."

Left-hander Robbie Erlin, who is scheduled to start Saturday's game at Coors Field, said that though he didn't know how the games would play out Thursday or whether the bullpen would be used much, he knew it would be important for starters to eat up innings to rest a potentially weary relief corps.

"We'll see how the games go today," Erlin said on Thursday. "But the next couple days, hopefully starters can go deep into the games and give the bullpen a little bit of a break, and we'll do our best to fulfill that."

Setup man Joaquin Benoit said that on days like Thursday, it's important for relievers to conserve energy and not put unnecessary work in.

"Just make every pitch count," Benoit said. "You've got a doubleheader, there's nothing we can do about it, so you just approach the game and try to take advantage of every opportunity to make each pitch count and keep yourself as healthy as you can."