Hosmer finding groove, on hot streak for SD

Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.

First baseman Eric Hosmer has reached base in 39 of his past 41 starts, including a season-high 17 straight games.

Hosmer is hitting .284 (19-for-67) during the 17-game streak with a triple, four homers, 14 RBIs, 13 runs scored and three walks. He was 2-for-4 Tuesday night in San Francisco with an unusual two-run infield single.

Since he was hitting .184 on April 19, Hosmer has gone 58-for-177 (.328) with six doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 30 RBIs, 29 runs scored and 10 walks while raising his batting average 101 points. He has a .364 on-base percentage during the run with a .525 slugging percentage for a .889 OPS.

Notes

• Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is 7-for-16 (.438) in four starts and a pinch-hitting appearance since coming off the disabled list with a double, two homers, two walks, four RBIs and five runs scored for a .500 on-base percentage, a .875 slugging percentage and a 1.375 OPS. The game-opening homer Monday was his first of his career and the Padres’ second of the season. (Center fielder Manuel Margot had the other on April 14 at Arizona.)

• Second baseman Ian Kinsler is 18-for-52 since May 21 to raise his batting average from .171 to .209. Monday night’s home run was his fourth over his past 20 games along with five doubles. He has nine RBIs and 10 runs scored during the run with five walks for a .404 on-base percentage, a .673 slugging percentage and a 1.077 OPS.

• Right-hander Chris Paddack has seen his ERA climb from 1.93 to 3.15 over his past three starts. He has given up 13 runs (12 earned) on 20 hits and two walks with 16 strikeouts in 14 1/3 innings in those three starts for a 7.34 ERA and a 1.535 WHIP compared to a 1.93 ERA and a 0.807 WHIP in his first nine starts. Paddack got his first Major League hit Tuesday in San Francisco.