Phoenix: Ian Kennedy topped the National League with his 17th win of the season as the Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 6-1 for their sixth consecutive win Sunday.
Arizona have allowed just five runs over their impressive winning streak, and Kennedy (17-4) continued the stingy pitching while striking out seven batters over seven innings.
The red-hot right-hander has now won nine of his last 10 starts to help the D-Backs establish a four-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West.
"We weren't playing well before this, so we're kind of making up for it," Kennedy told reporters. "It's nice to do this at home, go on this streak against guys in our division. It's a lot of fun right now."
In control
Kennedy's 17th win of the year surpassed Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw's 16 for the lead in the NL. Kennedy and the D-Backs fell behind 1-0 to the Padres in the top of the second, but a pair of home runs gave them control.
Collin Cowgill, who went 4-for-4 on the day, tied the game with a solo blast in the bottom of the second before Aaron Hill's two-run shot in the third gave the home team a 3-1 lead.
The homer was the first for Hill since he joined Arizona through a trade with Toronto on Tuesday, while Cowgill also hit an RBI double in the eighth as the Diamondbacks added three more runs.
The loss was the fourth straight for the NL West bottom-feeders San Diego (60-74).
"Their pitching has really come on," said Padres manager Bud Black.
"The two guys at the top of their rotation, Kennedy and Daniel Hudson, have come into their own with confidence and stuff. Their bullpen has been revamped. That's the biggest thing, pitching."
