NewsStauffer settling into a groove for Friars
San Diego (66-81) at Pittsburgh (55-89), 4:05 p.m. PT
By Corey Brock / MLB.com
09/16/09 9:58 PM ET
SAN DIEGO -- It's already been a September to remember for Padres right-hander Tim Stauffer, who will look to continue his succcess this month when the Padres open a four-game series on Friday in Pittsburgh.Stauffer is 1-0 in two starts this month with a 1.42 ERA. Opposing batters are hitting .213 against him. So far in 2009, Stauffer has a 3.31 ERA in 12 starts since being promoted from Triple-A Portland.
Stauffer continued his strong stretch in September in his last start on Sept. 12 against the Rockies, allowing one run on three hits in six innings.
Stauffer carried a shutout into the sixth inning on Saturday before allowing a solo home run to Troy Tulowitzki. He's allowed three earned runs in his past three starts, spanning 19 1/3 innings.
"It was a solid outing. What I like was that he made pitches when he needed to," Padres manager Bud Black said. "The four walks were unlike him. I really like the use of the changeup. I thought that was his best pitch."
Stauffer was, for whatever reason, without his best slider and his curveball, two pitches that have served him well in the second half of the season. Instead, the Rockies got a steady diet of fastballs and changeups, a pitch that would help get him 10 groundouts.
"It was good," Stauffer said. "It was a good equalizer to left-handers. If it's thrown well, it gets them out on their front foot."
Pitching matchup
SD: RHP Tim Stauffer (4-6, 3.31 ERA)
Another strong start for Stauffer, who lowered his ERA to 3.31 by allowing one run over six innings to the red-hot Rockies on Sept. 12. PIT: RHP Charlie Morton (3-8, 5.35 ERA)
Morton had a decent start his most recent time out, though there still has been no sort of consistency shown from the right-hander this season. The movement on his pitches remains extremely intriguing. But with often minimal command of that movement, Morton has been hit quite hard. He has, however, made three quality starts in his past four outings after his disastrous start in Chicago on Aug. 14, when he allowed 10 runs in one inning. This will be Morton's second career start against the Padres. He won his first by allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings against San Diego last season. Tidbits
Padres rookie reliever Luke Gregerson has not allowed a run in 16 innings dating back to August 16. The streak ranked as the fifth longest active streak in the Major Leagues and the second-longest in the National League. Over the 17- game stretch, Gregerson has gone 1-0, allowing six hits and five walks with 21 strikeouts. ... Black said Wednesday that relievers Mike Adams and Greg Burke will be available to pitch Friday in Pittsburgh, giving a short-handed bullpen a little bit of depth for a four-game series and 10-game road trip. ... Second baseman David Eckstein (sore neck) got his third consecutive day off on Wednesday but Black said he could return Friday in Pittsburgh. ... First baseman Adrian Gonzalez didn't start Wednesday because of a sore right shoulder, but he was able to play, according to Black. That the D-backs had a left-handed pitcher (Doug Davis) on the mound, made it easier for Black to give Gonzalez the start off. Oscar Salazar started at first base for Gonzalez. Tickets
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On the Internet
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• XPRS 1090, XEMO 860 (Español) Up next
• Saturday: Padres (Clayton Richard, 8-5, 4.90) at Pirates (Ross Ohlendorf, 11-10, 4.03), 9:35 a.m. PT
• Sunday: Padres (TBD) at Pirates (Paul Maholm, 8-8, 4.51), 10:35 a.m. PT
• Monday: Padres (TBD) at Pirates (Daniel McCutchen, 0-2, 5.50), 4:05 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.
