The Padres rank third-to-last in baseball in scoring, but Carlos Quentin has provided a much-needed jolt to San Diego's lineup.

Since the 29-year-old slugger made his season debut last Monday, the Padres have scored 25 runs in five games, nearly two runs per game better than their average. Quentin, who missed the first two months of the season after having right knee surgery in March, is hitting .474 (9-for-19) with three homers and seven RBIs in his first five games.

"It doesn't matter if you're good or bad offensively, it's always good to get a guy back who has hit in the middle of the lineup like Carlos has," Padres catcher Nick Hundley said. "We have high expectations for him."

Quentin has just one career hit in eight at-bats against Trevor Cahill, whom the D-backs will send to the mound on Sunday at Petco Park.

Cahill is winless since May 1. In his last outing, he served up four runs in the first two innings to the Giants, but held San Francisco scoreless over the next four frames.

"I was just kind of mixing it up," Cahill said. "I was throwing more quality pitches. I was down in the zone more. I was just executing pitches better."

San Diego will counter with southpaw Eric Stults, whom they claimed off waivers from the White Sox on May 17.

D-backs: Upton given day off
• Manager Kirk Gibson gave right fielder Justin Upton a day off on Saturday, with the slugger mired in a 3-for-20 slump over his last five games.

"I feel fine [physically]," Upton said. "Obviously I've struggled the last couple of days so Gibby wants to give me a day to rest. I hate being out of the lineup, but it's up to him. It's his decision, ultimately, and he felt like today was the day to give me off. There's not much I can do about it."

Upton is batting .249 with five homers and 20 RBIs.

Padres: Street making progress on rehab assignment
• Closer Huston Street, on the disabled list since May 5 with a strained right lat muscle, retired all three batters he faced on Friday while pitching for Class A Lake Elsinore.

"This was more about getting my feet wet and more about building up," said Street, who has allowed just one run on three hits in 9 2/3 innings in 10 appearances this season.

Street is scheduled to pitch for the Storm again on Sunday and could rejoin the Padres next week.

"He felt good about his outing," manager Bud Black said. "If everything goes according to plan, we'll see him early in the week."

Worth noting
• D-backs shortstop Stephen Drew played a complete game in extended Spring Training on Saturday, the first time he has played in back-to-back games since injuring his ankle last July 20.

• Padres outfielder Will Venable is batting .311 over his last 23 games.

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