Diamondbacks 4, Padres 1
Ian Kennedy struck out a season-high 11 batters over 7 2/3 innings to become the National League’s first 19-game winner and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the visiting San Diego Padres 4-1 on Thursday.
Paul Goldschmidt and Justin Upton each hit solo home runs for the Diamondbacks, who moved 7 1/2 games ahead of San Francisco in the National League West.
Arizona has won a franchise-record 13 straight home games and 14 of its last 16 overall. The Diamondbacks’ magic number dropped to 12 with 18 games to go.
Kennedy (19-4) gave up seven hits and no walks as he came within one strikeout of tying his career high. J.J. Putz worked a scoreless ninth inning for his 38th save.
Padres starter Cory Luebke (5-9) lost his fourth consecutive start despite striking out nine over 5 2/3 innings. Seven of the 11 home runs that Luebke has allowed this season have come against Arizona.
San Diego, which has lost 12 of its last 14 games, avoided a shutout on Will Venable’s run-scoring single that chased Kennedy in the top of the eighth.
Arizona has won eight of the 12 meetings against the Padres this season.