Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Padres' manager Andy Green was quite honest before Tuesday's game in Texas.
     
The Padres bullpen needed a breather. In the four previous games, the Padres had deployed 18 relievers for a total of 22 innings.
     
But Green also knew the calendar offered a glimmer of hope.
     
The Padres two deepest-working starters, Tyson Ross and Clayton Richard were scheduled to pitch Tuesday and Wednesday in the oppressive Texas heat. Then the Padres would have a day off on Thursday before returning to the cooler climate of Petco Park for three games against the Pirates.
     
Ross delivered on his part of the scenario Tuesday night when he completed at least six innings for the third straight start and for the eighth time in his last 11 starts. The right-hander has worked at least five innings in each of those 11 starts and has a 3.04 earned run average during the run.
     
The Padres did use three relievers in Tuesday's 3-2 win, but all three had at least a day off.
     
Now it's Richard's turn. And the left-hander goes into Wednesday night's start in the rubber-match series finale riding of streak of going at least six innings in nine straight starts.
     
Ross departed Tuesday's game trailing 2-0 as he received zero runs of support for the third consecutive start. He surrendered multiple home runs for the 1st time since May 12 against the Cardinals at Petco Park.
     
Ross has a 1.13 earned run average in first innings this season (two runs allowed in the first inning of his 16 starts) and has 10 quality starts this season.
     
NOTEBOOK:
     
--The Padres Tuesday recorded their second win when trailing after seven innings. They are 2-39 when trailing after seven innings. In a follow-up to a continuing trend, the Padres are 1-17 in the opening game of their last 18 series. They are 13-5 in the second game and 11-6 in the third game heading into Wednesday night.
     
--RHP Kirby Yates struck out the side Tuesday night in his third relief appearance in a five-day span. He has allowed no runs on two hits with six strikeouts in four innings over the last five days while throwing 62 pitches (44 strikes). Yates hasn't been scored on over his last 11 appearances while giving up six hits and three walks with 14 strikeouts in 13 innings - lowering his ERA from 1.35 to 0.82.
     
--LHP Brad Hand picked up his 22nd save Tuesday night and his first save since June 13 Tuesday night. In his four outings between saves, Hand was 0-1 with two blown saves (half of his season total) and allowed five runs on five hits and a walk in three innings as his ERA shot up to 2.82 from 1.78. He allowed two hits Tuesday night before recording the final out.
     
--INF Christian Villanueva has four RBIs in his last four pinch-hitting appearances. He five RBIs in 13 career appearances as a pinch-hitter.