DENVER -- Mike Adams has decided to take the "less is more" approach pitching, which is a far cry from the way the Padres' reliever initially went after opposing hitters after he was promoted from the Minor Leagues in May.

"For a couple of weeks, I was kind of grunting out there and trying to throw as hard as I could," Adams said before Tuesday's game against the Rockies at Coors Field.

That sort of thinking has occasionally gotten the right-handed reliever in trouble, though he has posted a very good innings-pitched-to-strikeouts ratio, 29 strikeouts over his 24 2/3 innings with the Padres.

But it has sometimes gotten Adams into trouble, as he's allowed three home runs over his first 16 appearances with the Padres.

Enter the "less is more" approach that Adams has recently adhered to, where his focus is not strikeouts, but using fewer pitches to get outs.

"The past two outings, I've been really comfortable," Adams said. "I have been in a good mindset on the mound," Adams said. "The main thing is to try and throw strikes and make them get themselves out."

That worked Monday when Adams needed just 30 pitches to work through two scoreless innings in a game the Padres rallied to win, 15-8, after trailing 8-3 after five innings.

"I'm more relaxed. I'm trying to hit my spots," Adams said.

San Diego manager Bud Black, when relayed Adams' new approach, lent his support.

"I'm glad he's thinking that," Black said.