Worth noting

• One thing third baseman Chase Headley was hoping for on his injury rehabilitation assignment with Class A Advanced Lake Elsinore was to face a left-handed starter, and he did that on Tuesday night. Next up on his checklist: Rejoining the Padres on Saturday, when he is eligible to come off of the disabled list.

• Carlos Quentin, meanwhile, flied out in a pinch-hitting appearance for the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas on Wednesday. Black said prior to the Padres' 8-0 loss to the Royals that Quentin is making progress but offered no timetable on his return as he recovers from a bruised left knee.

"There's got to be a point we feel he's in a state to contribute both physically and endurance-wise," Black said after the loss. "He hasn't played in a good six or seven weeks."

• The fact that the Padres' bullpen had compiled a Major League-best 1.87 ERA entering Wednesday's series finale with Kansas City played huge in light of another key statistic: The Padres had played 24 games decided by two or fewer runs, also a Major League-high.