Knowing that he had been pitching poorly and that injured Kyle Lohse was making a rehab start on the same night, Todd Wellemeyer responded to the challenge with one of his best games of the season Thursday.

Wellemeyer blanked San Francisco for seven innings before allowing a two-run homer to Aaron Rowand in the eighth inning. Showing some renewed focus, Wellemeyer threw 65 strikes out of 99 pitches.

In his last start, Wellemeyer had wrapped up a dismal June (1-3, 6.89 ERA) by working only 2 1/3 innings against Minnesota, his shortest outing of the season.

Wellemeyer had a 30-minute conversation with pitching coaches Dave Duncan and Marty Mason and watched film. He discovered an issue with his balance.

"When you figure it out, it feels good," Wellemeyer ...More