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Spangenberg hopes to continue hot start versus D-backs

Sep 3, 2014 - 2:58 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Cory Spangenberg. The ultimate weapon.

Toiling at Double-A San Antonio just a week ago, the youngster has taken full advantage of the expanded rosters call-up to the big leagues and will try to keep it going when the San Diego Padres host the Arizona Diamondbacks in game three of four on Wednesday night at Petco Park.

Spangenberg singled in the decisive two runs in his debut in Monday's opener, then hit a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the ninth on Tuesday to secure another victory, 2-1.

The Padres have won seven of their last nine games.

"This is unbelievable so far. I'm just trying to soak everything in and enjoy the moment and hopefully it lasts for a long time," Spangenberg said.

San Diego has lost just three of its last 19 games at home, including a 6-2 mark on a current 10-game homestand. Arizona has lost eight straight on the road.

The Diamondbacks start right-hander Josh Collmenter against the Padres after he tossed 8 1/3 innings against them on Aug. 22 and allowed a single earned run with eight strikeouts in a 5-1 triumph.

In two games with San Diego in 2014, he's posted a 0.66 earned run average and won twice.

He's changed his routine recently to lessen the amount of work he does between starts, which, he said, has left him sharper every five days.

"I've been moderately scaling back stuff between starts just to make sure that I'm as fresh as can be," Collmenter said. "I'm not trying to waste too many bullets between starts."

The Padres counter with Andrew Casher, who starts for the third time since a two-month stay on the disabled list with right shoulder soreness.

He gave up two runs in five innings in his return against Arizona on Aug. 23, then allowed a single run in six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

"After these two starts, he's probably ready to have a September of taking the leash off and letting him go pitch," manager BuD Black said. "The stamina's there, the endurance, durability, stuff. I look forward to Cash's September."

Cashner's last victory came April 16, a stretch of 10 starts.

Arizona has won eight of its 14 matchups with the Padres this season.