Brach again going zero-to-60 in one season

SAN DIEGO -- Don't tell Padres rookie reliever Brad Brach that his right arm should be tired right now, not even after he's appeared in 58 games thus far.

Brach, who has more appearances that any other National League rookie relief pitcher, topped the 60-game mark in each of the last three seasons in the Minor Leagues.

Brach, who is 2-4 with a 4.11 ERA, has a 3.18 ERA in his last six appearances and is unscored upon in his last four appearances heading into Monday's game against the Cardinals.

Better still, Brach has allowed 10 percent of his inherited runners to score, stranding 36 of 40, which is tied for second best among all qualifying Major League relievers.

"The last three years, I've had 65 or so games pitched, so I'm used to it," Brach said. "I've had some ups and downs during the year, but right now I feel as good as I've felt."

Brach said he was troubled with some soreness in his arm in May, the result of a heavy workload in the early part of the season as he appeared in 18 games by the end of May. But he feels fine now.

"We have been very happy with his resiliency," said Padres manager Bud Black. "To go out and hold his stuff every night is part of being a good reliever. It's been a great learning year for Brad. He's throwing his best baseball in the last month."