first pitch: 12:35 p.m., PT
television: none
matchup: Jake Peavy (2-3, 4.17 ERA) vs Ben Hendrickson (0-0, 2.79 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com | ESPN

For the second straight night, the Padres had a tough left-hander on the ropes but couldn’t put him away. Fortunately, Chan Ho Park and some strong defense were able to shut down a powerful Milwaukee lineup and win the game, 3-0.

Observations from Wednesday’s Game

• Park did a great job of using his ballpark and the defenders behind him. The final line looks brilliant, but there were some pretty loud outs. Mike Cameron and Brian Giles both made spectacular catches in support of their pitcher. I still can’t believe Cameron caught that ball off the bat of Bill Hall in the fifth. Neither can Rickie Weeks, who was well past second base by the time it came down and nearly was doubled off first. Yesterday we noted that Park’s success this year is due in large part to improved command. How much easier is it to throw strikes when you know that even if a guy hits the ball hard, in that ballpark and with those outfielders behind you, chances are you’ll get an out? Park doesn’t have the overpowering stuff he once did, and he has to pitch smart. So far this season, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
• There is no middle ground with Mark Bellhorn. Either he is on fire and carrying the ballclub or he is completely sucking wind. Bellhorn got the Golden Sombrero last night — four at-bats, four strikeouts. In his third at-bat, he struck out on Chris Capuano’s 42nd pitch of the fourth inning, which if taken would have been ball four, forced in a fourth run, and likely chased Capuano from the game. Thankfully that didn’t come back to bite the Padres.
• I can’t watch Vinny Castilla’s at-bats. Fortunately they don’t last very long. He has put the first pitch in play 25 times in 118 plate appearances. The payoff? Castilla is hitting .240/.240/.280 in those at-bats. Also, in 64 trips to the plate at Petco Park this year, he is hitting .156/.200/.172. Yep, his OPS is below 400. Castilla seems like a really nice guy, and I hope he pulls out of it, but this is painful.
• I love our backup catchers. We’ve talked about Rob Bowen (who gets the start Thursday), but how about Josh Bard? I don’t know how the Padres managed to get Boston to throw in a minor-league reliever and “future considerations,” but I’m not complaining. Dude can play. He had some real nice approaches at the plate Wednesday, driving in the first two runs of the game with a double in the fourth. This came just moments after he’d won some admirers with the “None Shall Pass” routine he pulled on Corey Koskie to end the top of the inning. And how about the rapport between pitcher and catcher?

  Quoth Park:

  He’s the kind of catcher who makes you pitch aggressively. I feel very comfortable with him.

  Quoth Bard:

  I’ve just been telling Chan Ho to believe in himself and believe in his stuff … pound the mitt.

  Can you feel the love?

• Ben Johnson got an at-bat in the eighth and drew a walk. I’d forgotten Johnson was still with the big club. If he can’t get the occasional start against lefties over Eric Young, I don’t imagine there’s much of a future for the kid in San Diego. It’ll be interesting to see where Johnson eventually ends up and what the Padres are able to get for him.
• I’ll never get tired of Trevor Time. No, he ain’t what he used to be, but ask Gabe Gross why they call Hoffman’s changeup “the icky.”

Thursday’s Matchup

Jake Peavy takes the mound for the Pads in the rubber game. Peavy’s strikeouts are down and his ERA is up in the early going, but he’s pitched well in each of his last two starts. The stuff has been fine, the command a little less so. Now would be a good time to change that.

Ben Sheets was supposed to get the start for Milwaukee, but he’s back on the DL with right shoulder tendinitis. Starting in place of Sheets is promising young right-hander Ben Hendrickson, about whom I know nothing other than he’s young, promising, and right-handed.

Day game at Petco. Get down there if you can. Otherwise, hang out and chat. It’d be nice to get a new winning streak going before heading to Chicago for the weekend.