Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Center fielder Jon Jay missed a third straight start Thursday night in Cincinnati as he continues to have treatment for the right forearm contusion he suffered Sunday when hit by a pitch in the series finale against Washington.
But the Padres haven't missed a beat with Travis Jankowski in center during Jay's absence.
The 25-year-old Jankowski is 5-for-13 with two walks, four stolen bases, two RBIs and threes runs scored while starting the last three games.
Jankowski has raised his season batting average to .261. Jay is hitting .296 on the season.
NOTES FROM THE SCOREBOOK:
--Right fielder Matt Kemp has hits and RBIs in four straight games, going 8-for-18 with two doubles, a homer, six RBIs and two runs scored. Kemp is hitting .360 in June (31-for-86) after hitting .186 in May for the second straight season. Through the first 21 games this month, Kemp has six doubles, three home runs, 19 RBIs and 12 runs scored.
--Catcher Derek Norris' decisive three-run homer Thursday night continued his strong June. He has hit safely in 13 of 17 games he's played this month, going 19-for-63 (.302) with a double, five home runs, 15 RBIs and 11 runs scored. Norris has raised his batting average from .179 to .215 in June.
--Left fielder Melvin Upton Jr. was 2-for-4 Thursday night. His 18th multi-hit game tied his total for the 2015 season. Upton has hit safely in seven of his last eight games, going 13-for-32 (.406) during the run with two doubles, a homer, three steals, four RBIs and eight runs scored.
--Right-handed closer Fernando Rodney converted his 16th save of the season Thursday night in Cincinnati, tying his saves total for the 2015 season. He hasn't blown a save since Sept. 9 last season.
--Left-handed reliever Ryan Buchter retired all three Reds he faced Thursday night to extend his scoreless innings streak to 8 2/3 and lower his earned run average to 1.65. He has allowed runs in only three of his 35 appearances.