NewsOffense looking to pick up ace Peavy
San Diego (15-22) vs. Cincinnati (20-16), 1:05 p.m. PT
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
05/17/09 4:06 AM ET
SAN DIEGO -- After winning two of his first three starts, Padres pitcher Jake Peavy has undergone a monumental dry spell, as the 2007 Cy Young Award winner hasn't won a game since April 16.Oddly enough, that victory was the last by a starting pitcher until Kevin Correia snapped that funk with a win Friday against the Reds.
But for the most part, the lack of run support has been a familar story for Peavy, who is 0-4 and has a no-decision in his last four starts.
Peavy has been the victim of poor run support this season. Going into his start Sunday against the Reds, Peavy has the seventh-worst run support (3.27 runs a start) in the National League. He ranks 11th overall in the Majors.
In his past five starts, the Padres have scored a total of six runs when Peavy was in the game. His last start against the Cubs on May 12 is the perfect example of what he's been going through.
Adrian Gonzalez hit a two-run home run in the first inning but the Padres wouldn't score again, as Peavy allowed three runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out nine and walked two.
Home runs have hurt Peavy this season. He has allowed six homers in eight starts but many of those have accounted for multiple runs, like the grand slam he allowed to San Francisco's Edgar Renteria on April 21 or the three-run homer he allowed to Pittsburgh's Adam LaRoche on April 26.
"You pitch that game across the big leagues, most times, you'll get a 'W,' " Padres manager Bud Black said. In the start against the Cubs, Peavy felt like he pitched well enough to win. Against counterpart Rich Harden, though, it wasn't.
"Just good enough to lose," Peavy said of the start.
Pitching matchupSD: RHP Jake Peavy (2-5, 4.30 ERA)
Peavy actually pitched with a lead for the first time since April 16, but failed to hold it in the Cubs' 6-2 victory on Tuesday night. Adrian Gonzalez staked Peavy to a 2-0 first-inning advantage with a home run, but Peavy lost the lead in the sixth on Milton Bradley's two-run homer. Peavy has dropped four straight decisions and has pitched exceptionally well over his past three outings (2.14 ERA). He has struck out a combined 29 batters over his past three starts as well. CIN: RHP Bronson Arroyo (5-2, 7.02 ERA)
Arroyo was far from sharp while allowing five earned runs and 10 hits over seven innings with five strikeouts. That included three home runs during his 123-pitch night. The right-hander has four of his five wins on the road this season. Last season against the Padres, he was 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA. Arroyo is 4-4 with a 3.97 ERA over eight career starts against San Diego. Tidbits
San Diego manager Bud Black said Saturday that there was no real reason why left fielder Chase Headley wasn't in the lineup for the second consecutive day, other than Black wanted to keep the lineup looking like it did in Friday's 5-3 victory over the Reds. "Nothing against Chase ... nothing to read into that," said Black. ... Brian Giles cost the Padres two runs in Friday's victory when he lost a fly ball in the stadium lights. "It's one of those things where the trajectory of the ball was tough," Black said. "He fought it. It's a combination of getting your glove up and not getting hit in the lips." ... Pitcher Walter Silva made his third Minor League rehab stint with Triple-A Portland on Friday, allowing three runs in four innings. He has a 4.76 ERA in three games as he works his way back from a strained forearm. There's no timetable for his return. ... The Padres are still hopeful Cliff Floyd (strained knee) will be ready to go on a Minor League rehab stint sometime next week. ... Rookie shortstop Everth Cabrera has taken ground balls the past two days but is still unable to test his broken left hamate bone by taking batting practice. ... Black also said shortstop Luis Rodriguez, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a sprained left ankle, could miss in upwards of two to three weeks. The team will know more once the swelling in his ankle goes down. Tickets
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• XPRS 1090, XEMO 860 (Español) Up next
• Monday: Off-day
• Tuesday: Padres (Chris Young, 2-2, 5.56) vs. Giants (Barry Zito, 1-3, 3.89), 7:05 p.m. PT
• Wednesday: Padres (TBD) vs. Giants (Jonathan Sanchez, 1-3, 5.06), 7:05 p.m. PT
Corey Brock is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
