Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
The Padres are 2-1 in the current version of their "bullpen starts" - meaning the three opened by left-hander Matt Strahm.
     
Over those three starts, Strahm has allowed one run on four hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.
     
In each of those starts, Strahm went a little bit further - two innings at Dodger Stadium on May 27, 2 1/3 innings against Atlanta at Petco Park on June 6 and three perfect innings at St. Louis Tuesday night.
     
In five appearances, including his three "bullpen starts" since May 27, Strahm has allowed one run on two hits and no walks with nine strikeouts over 10 1/3 innings - lowering his earned run average from 4.91 to 2.55.
     
Adam Cimber followed Strahm Tuesday night and went three innings for the third time in his rookie season. Over his last five outings since May 27, Cimber has allowed two hits and no walks or runs with 10 strikeouts in seven innings to lower his ERA from 3.25 to 2.60.
     
Over the three bullpen starts, Padres relievers have allowed nine runs on 19 hits and four walks with 27 strikeouts in 26 innings - for a 3.12 earned run average and a 0.88 WHIP.
     
The Padres have 14 wins from their relief pitchers this season.
     
The Padres are 19-4 this season when holding the opposition to two or fewer runs and 23-4 when they score first.
     
Padres pitchers didn't issue a walk in a second straight game for the first time since May of the 2017 season. Tuesday marked the fourth time this season that the Padres didn't issue a walk with all four games coming on the road.
     
NOTEBOOK:
     
--C Austin Hedges made his rehab debut at Lake Elsinore Tuesday night, going 1-for-2 with a walk.
     
--C A.J. Ellis is hitting .373 (19-for-51) with four doubles, a homer, nine RBIs, six runs scored and eight walks since April 29, the day before Hedges went on the disabled list with elbow tendinitis. During Hedges' absence, Ellis has a .458 on-base percentage and a .510 slugging percentage for a .968 OPS.
     
--LHP Brad Hand has converted 14 straight opportunities since May 1. In 18 appearances during the run, Hand has allowed two runs on nine hits and seven walks with 31 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings for a 0.89 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP - lowering his season ERA from 3.27 to 1.83. Hand has 20 saves on the season to tie Colorado's Wade Davis for the National League lead. He is the first Padres pitcher since Huston Street (2012-14) to have consecutive seasons of 20 or more saves.
     
--1B Eric Hosmer has three homers in his last eight games.
     
--Right-handed reliever Phil Maton issued a walk with a strikeout in an otherwise perfect inning to lower his ERA to 2.25 after three appearances in San Antonio.