GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Tim Stauffer was pleased with his fastball location. He was really excited about the placement of a blooper he hit in the fifth inning, though.
Stauffer pitched three-hit ball for six innings and had a two-run single, leading the San Diego Padres to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday for their fifth straight win.
"Good placement on that one," he said. "I'll take it. I hope it translates to the season."
He could've been talking about his pitches, too. Stauffer struck out two without walking a batter.
"I had a little better fastball command ... I was throwing good pitches in the zone ... with a little more life, instead of a little flat, up a little bit," Stauffer said. "Some guys can do that. I need to have the ball down in the zone, moving, to be successful."
Padres manager Bud Black was impressed with Stauffer's work on the mound.
"He pitched with the fastball. It was great," Black said. "Love the fastball. It's the pitch that's thrown the most. How can you not love it?"
Jamey Wright, a former starter who is trying to make the Dodgers' staff as swing man, started and pitched two perfect innings.
"It makes me realize how much I've learned as a reliever about myself, compared to starting and how many pitches I wasted as a starter, throwing and throwing and throwing," Wright said. "I felt great. I felt I could get on the mound as soon as I played catch.
Wright has started 246 games in the big leagues but since 2007 has worked exclusively as a reliever. He made 60 appearances for Seattle last year, going 2-3 with a 3.16 ERA in 68 1-3 innings.
"In my mind, I feel I could go out there and set up, or close or start or do anything I was asked," he said.
Mike MacDougal and Kenley Jansen were among those who pitched scoreless innings for the Dodgers.
Also for the Dodgers, Dee Gordon went 2 for 3 to raise his average to .343.
NOTES: The Dodgers will play a split-squad set Friday, taking on the Royals in Surprise while sending most of their regulars -- including Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier -- to Tucson to play the White Sox. The Tucson event will benefit victims of the shooting Jan. 8, 2011 -- when former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was wounded -- including the Christina-Taylor Green Memorial Fund. The fund was established by Dodgers scout John Green to honor his daughter. ... Ted Lilly, pitching in a minor league game for the Dodgers, gave up four runs while striking out eight in five innings. ... Dodgers infielder Luis Cruz turned a double play on a line drive up the middle by Jedd Gyorko.
