Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
A step forward, a step back.
The Padres have had a tough time getting on a roll.
The pitching -- both the rotation and the bullpen -- seems to be coming around. But the offense that carried the club early has hit a rough spot.
The Padres were shut out for the fifth time this month -- and the seventh time this season -- on Thursday, wasting what turned out to be a quality start from right-hander Odrisamer Despaigne.