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 The Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander threw six solid innings Sunday, allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking out six. He also contributed two hits and drove in his team's only run in the third inning.
But in the end it was San Diego's Kyle Blanks and Clayton Richard that carried the Padres to their sixth straight win and a three-game sweep of Arizona.
Blanks hit a three-run home run off reliever David Hernandez (2-4) in the bottom of the eighth inning to snap a 1-1 tie and make a winner out of Richard (2-5), who pitched a season high eight innings, allowing one run on seven hits.
"I felt good throwing the ball," said Kennedy. "They are a tough team, they foul balls off and have long at-bats, no matter who they are. They are a good team over there. You have to give them credit for what they did the whole series."
Huston Street came on in the ninth to pick up his 13th save in 14 opportunities for the Padres (35-34), who moved above 500. for the first time since closing the 2010 season with a 90-72 record.
The Padres have gone 30-19 since April 24th, are 21-7 in their last 28 home games and have pulled within two games of first-place Arizona in the NL West.
"We got outplayed in every aspects of the game," said Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson. "I thought he (Kennedy) threw the ball great. His changeup to (Will) Venable (who homered) was a hanging breaking ball. That was not a good pitch. They didn't miss then and we did."
Kennedy is appealing a 10-game suspension for his part in the team's recent brawl with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"It's out of our hands. I don't know when it's going to happen. I know you guys have to write about it. But I just want to put it behind me and go out and pitch. It helps that it's Father's Day and I woke up and got pictures from my girls, wishing me
'Happy Father's Day' and good luck."
Richard went a season-high eight innings allowing one run on seven hits. He walked none and struck out one as he improved to 7-1 in 10 career starts against the Diamondbacks.
"Any situation is big but to produce late in the game makes it that much better," said Blanks.
He has hit safely in 11 of his last 15 games, batting .321 during that span.
"There is no secret. I've been just trying to stay consistent really focusing on trying to get good swings and putting those good swings on good pitches and typically good things happen when you do that."
Ten days ago Blanks had been assigned to Triple-A Tucson but made a quick U-turn when injuries befell first baseman Yonder Alonso and outfielder Cameron Maybin.
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"He's got raw power, he's a big man with legitimate power that plays in the big leagues," said Padres manager Bud Black. "He's taken this opportunity of regular play and really playing well whether in the outfield or at first base. He's responding. He's making a statement."
Blanks had gone 0 for 3 against Arizona starter Ian Kennedy before launching a hanging breaking ball from Hernandez.
In the bottom of the third, the Padres' Will Venable hit his ninth home run of the season, a 429-foot blast to right-center off Kennedy.
In the bottom of the third, the Padres' Will Venable hit his ninth home run of the season, a 429-foot blast to right-center off Kennedy.
It stayed that way until the eighth. Everth Cabrera opened the inning with his third single of the game and Chase Headley walked with two outs before Blanks hit a 1-2 pitch 379 feet into the left-field bleachers.
That gave Richard's his first win as a starter this season. He had a relief win earlier in the season.
"Clayton threw the ball well, look at the results," said Black. "I thought he had good command of his fastball, especially down in the strike zone. And he utilized his two-seam fastball with 89 to 90 velocity and got the good sliders and good sinking fastball."
NOTES: Padres OF Carlos Quentin remained out of the starting lineup with an ailing left shoulder. Black said that team orthopedic surgeon Heinz Hoenecke would evaluate Quentin during a game. ... Padres INF Jedd Gyorko, currently on the DL with a groin strain, will travel with the team to San Francisco on Monday and according to Black will do some hitting on the field and take ground balls. Black is hopeful he'll resume normal baseball activities by the end of the week. ... Arizona INF Aaron Hill (broken left hand) went 1-for-4 with an RBI Saturday in a rehab assignment for Triple-A Reno. ... Gibson said INF Eric Chavez (strained oblique) is a few weeks away from returning. ... RHP Brandon McCarthy will resume light throwing activities Monday. McCarthy has been on the disabled list since June 1 with right shoulder inflammation. Gibson said McCarthy's shoulder "feels good." ... The Padres will send RHP Edinson Volquez (5-5, 5.87 ERA) to the mound Monday against Giants LHP Barry Zito (4-5, 4.79). ... Arizona heads home to face Miami with LHP Patrick Corbin (9-0, 2.28) facing RHP Jacob Turner (1-0, 1.80).
[Associated
Press]
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