--3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, who went 3-for-4 Sunday with a homer and two RBI, has hit safely in 17 of his last 21 games, going 28-for-82 (.341) with nine doubles, a triple, four homers and 12 RBIs.
--RHP Chris Young, who has been on the disabled list since being struck in the face by a line drive off Albert Pujols' bat on May 21, will begin a rehab assignment at Class A Lake Elsinore Wednesday night. Young's catcher will be Josh Bard, who went out the same game as Young when he suffered a high ankle sprain trying to block the plate against Pujols later the same inning. He began his rehab assignment Sunday night. --Catching has been perhaps the Padres' biggest problem this season. Going into the season, the Padres thought Bard (.200) and Michael Barrett (.202) would hit enough to overcome their defensive shortcomings. They didn't -- and both have spent more than half the season on the disabled list. Overall, Padres catchers have hit .183 (61-for-333) with two homers and 20 RBIs. Meantime, runners have stolen 114 bases in 130 attempts (an 87.7 percent success rate). The 114 steals are only four less bases than all the Padres' catchers have gathered offensively (total bases and walks).
--1B Adrian Gonzalez was 0-for-4 Sunday including a first-inning strikeout with runners on first and second with no one out. The first baseman is 11-for-63 (.175) over the past 17 games with one double and one homer with six RBIs. Recently, opposing teams have changed their approach to Gonzalez, especially in the past week with Brian Giles out of the lineup with a strained hamstring. "Adrian is now recognized as a force," said Padres manager Bud Black. "They're not going to want to be beaten by Adrian given our situation. They're paying him a high compliment. But it's tough on Adrian."
--RF Brian Giles said his hamstring has improved markedly over the weekend and he said he expects to be ready to play when the second half commences Thursday in St. Louis. "There has been noticeable improvement," said Giles. "Getting off it for a couple days was the right decision."
BY THE NUMBERS: 37-58 -- The .389 winning percentage is the eighth-lowest in Padres history.
6-34 -- Padres' record in the 40 games when they've scored two or fewer runs.
14-40 -- Padres' record when the other team scores first.
2-41 -- Padres' record when trailing after six innings.
3.68 -- Runs per game scored by the Padres, the lowest average in the National League.
.234 -- The Padres' batting average with runners in scoring position.
.187 -- The Padres' batting average with runners in scoring position and two out.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I've gotten stupid since I started playing baseball." -- Former sports medicine and pre-med major Chase Headley, talking to fellow Padres rookie and former Northeastern University chemistry major Luke Carlin.
