Padre Notebook : Storm Davis Pitching Under Some Dark Clouds

Pitcher Storm Davis hasn’t exactly taken the Padres by storm this spring.

In fact, he has caused Manager Larry Bowa’s temper to flare on occasion.

Davis, acquired in the off-season from Baltimore for catcher Terry Kennedy and minor league pitcher Mark Williamson, upset Bowa by being off his game again Wednesday. He allowed four runs (three earned) in three innings of relief as the Padres lost to the Angels, 5-3, for their fifth straight defeat.

“He has been the biggest disappointment,” Bowa said of Davis. “He’s getting his pitches up and over the plate. He’ll get killed in the National League if he pitches like that. He’s like a time bomb waiting to explode.”

Davis has an 0-3 record and 6.59 earned-run average this spring. But he said that there is no cause to worry and that he has always pitched poorly in spring training.

“But that’s no excuse for what I did,” Davis said. “I mean, what can I say? I had bad location, walked people and was not aggressive. I’m not throwing well. I’ll have to be better the next time out.”

Davis is the Padres’ No. 4 starter. He is scheduled to make his first National League appearance April 10 at Cincinnati.

“He has me confused,” Bowa said. “He’s not aggressive. He’ll have to make adjustments or he’ll be in trouble.”

In contrast, pitcher Ed Whitson is doing well.

Whitson allowed one run on four hits and struck out six in five innings Wednesday. He has an 0-1 record and 2.86 ERA.

“I’m normally just brutal in spring training,” Whitson said. “This has been a good spring. I don’t want to dwell on that. Everyone goes back to zeroes on Monday.”

He will make his first start Tuesday at San Francisco.

“Whitson is throwing the ball super,” Bowa said. “Whitson has probably been our best pitcher. He has had a great spring.”

The Padres have scored 27 runs in their last 10 games. In the eight games before that, they scored 66 runs.

Kevin Mitchell drove in all three runs Wednesday with a single and double.

Center fielder Stanley Jefferson is still out on a day-to-day basis with a sprained ankle. Bowa said it is up to Jefferson to say when he is ready to play.

The No. 5 starter may not be determined until the weekend. Jimmy Jones will pitch Friday night against San Diego State at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, and Ed Wojna will pitch Saturday or Sunday against the Chicago Cubs in Denver.

The Padres will play Oakland at 7:05 tonight in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Andy Hawkins will pitch against the A’s Curt Young.