The San Diego Padres have been playing better of late and will put their success to the test on the road, starting with Friday's opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Padres will also visit the Atlanta Braves for four games and have won two straight and seven of their last 11 games.
San Diego took the last two portions of a three-game series versus the New York Mets at Petco Park, including Wednesday's 7-3 decision. James Shields remained unbeaten on the season at 7-0 by holding the Mets to a pair of runs in seven innings.
"I was getting more ground balls tonight," Shields said. "I was making my pitches."
Will Middlebrooks drove in three runs, Will Venable added two hits and two RBI, and Justin Upton finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored for the Padres.
Tyson Ross draws the start for the Padres and has struggled to a 2-5 record with a decent 3.76 earned run average in 11 starts. Ross is 1-5 in his last six decisions and sustained the loss in Saturday's 5-2 decision versus Pittsburgh, allowing three runs -- two earned -- and seven hits in six innings.
Ross has given up two earned runs five times in his last six outings and is 0-2 in six road assignments. He has faced Cincinnati four times (3 starts) in his career and is 3-0 with a sparkling 0.72 ERA.
The Reds salvaged the finale of a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies with Thursday's 6-4 victory. Brandon Phillips had a big night at the plate with three hits, two RBI and a run scored, while Billy Hamilton added a pair of runs batted in.
"We have to dwell in the present and enjoy this game," Reds manager Bryan Price said.
Anthony DeSclafani picked up the win even though he gave up four runs in seven innings of work. Aroldis Chapman fanned three in the ninth for his 10th save.
Cincinnati has prevailed in five of its last eight games and will hand the ball to Raisel Iglesias for Friday's series opener. Iglesias is 1-1 with a 5.11 earned run average in six games (4 starts) and struggled in Saturday's 8-5 win over Washington, allowing five runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 frames.
Iglesias has never faced the Padres and the rookie right-hander is 1-0 with a 4.35 ERA in four games (3 starts) at Great American Ball Park.
The Padres went 5-1 against the Reds last season and the two clubs are scheduled for three games at Petco Park in August.
[SportsNetwork.com]
