Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
There seem to be three specific areas where Padres starting pitchers have struggled this season -- home runs, first-inning runs and with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Although right-hander James Shields got out of the first inning unharmed Friday night, Padres starters have a 5.12 earned run average in the first this season - overall, the staff's worst inning. Rival hitters are batting .264 against Padres pitching in the first inning this season.
The Padres have trailed after the first inning in 29 of their first 110 games, and the opposition has led after three innings 53 times this season.