Avila gives Padres more shutdown innings

PHOENIX -- Could Pedro Avila have a more prominent pitching role with the Padres?

“We’ll see as we go forward,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said.

Sure, it’s not a clear answer, but Avila has made a case to be relied on more. His performance Saturday night in the Padres’ 3-0 loss to the D-backs at Chase Field added evidence.

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After starter Rich Hill gave up three runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings, Avila came in relief. The right-hander delivered 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and issuing no walks.

“I think he's gotten a lot of confidence with what he's done at the big league level,” Melvin said. “Whether it's a three-inning outing, whether it's a spot start, certainly a game like this. He's got a lot of pitches to work from. And if he's throwing strikes, he's tough to think along with.

“We’re looking at these like small victories, right? I mean, we lost the game and that's not what we wanted, but now we have a much more rested bullpen tomorrow because of him.”

Avila agrees with Melvin’s comments about his confidence. After bouncing between the Minors and Majors in recent years, Avila has stuck with the Padres since July 23. In 18 1/3 big league innings this year, Avila has a 0.98 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP, 23 strikeouts and eight walks.

“Today was a really good day for me,” Avila said in Spanish. “I felt really good with my pitches, and I want to keep working at getting better.

“I maintained a strong mentality. And because of that, I feel like all the results I’ve wanted have been showing.”

Melvin isn’t the only one to take notice of Avila’s strong outings. Manny Machado, who went 3-for-4 against the D-backs with two doubles, praised the 26-year-old Venezuelan.

“He's been throwing the hell out of the ball,” Machado said. “For us not to give him some runs, how he pitched, is just definitely a downfall for us. But for himself, he's been throwing really well for us, and it's huge for the ballclub.”

While Avila continues to impress, Hill has yet to have a solid outing for the Padres. Through his first two starts, Hill has gone 6 1/3 innings and allowed 11 hits and nine runs. After his rough outing last Sunday, Hill didn’t sugarcoat his struggles. It was the same on Saturday.

“When you suck, you suck,” Hill said. “That's basically what's going on right now. I got to figure myself out of this.”

Christian Walker’s two-run homer in the third inning made Hill’s second Padres outing turn south. The veteran left-hander excelled at getting ahead in the count but just could not finish batters off.

“That's the story of the season a little bit for me,” Hill said. “Just, again, being able to [get] a fraction of an inch here or there, you get a different result. But again, that doesn't have anything to do with what it is and where it is right now. It's got to get better.”

Pitching has been a dire need for the Padres as of late. Outside of Blake Snell and Yu Darvish, the rest of the rotation has struggled to hold its own. Stalwarts Joe Musgrove and Michael Wacha are on the IL, although Wacha is set to return on Tuesday against the Orioles.

If the Padres feel they need to go internally to bolster their pitching in their chase for a playoff berth, they could always turn to Avila.

“When they need me, I’ll always be ready,” Avila said.