Amid hit streak, Venable named NL Player of Week

SAN DIEGO -- Padres outfielder Will Venable picked up at least one hit in each of his seven games last week, extending his current hitting streak to a Major League-best 15 games and earning his first career National League Player of the Week Award in the process.

Venable hit .406 (13-for-32) with two home runs, two doubles, a triple and seven runs scored for the week. His 13 hits and 23 total bases led the way for all NL players.

"It is a nice honor to get," Venable said Monday before the Padres took on the Pirates in San Diego. "I wish we had won seven games last week, which would have meant more to me. But I realize that they're not giving out a hundred Player of the Week Awards every week, so I am absolutely appreciative and happy to receive that award."

In extending his hitting streak to a career-best 15 games, Venable turned in three multihit efforts last week, starting with a three-hit game Tuesday against the Rockies. He went 3-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBIs in helping lead the Padres to a 7-5 victory.

After homering against the Mets on Friday, Venable turned in his second multihit performance of the week Saturday, when he went 4-for-5 with a double and three runs scored in an 8-2 win. He capped his week by going 2-for-5 and launching another home run -- a walk-off drive -- in a 4-3 triumph to cap Sunday's series finale with the Mets.

Lost in his offensive numbers has been Venable's solid defensive play, which has become a staple of his game. On Sunday -- before he walked off on the Mets in the ninth -- Venable robbed Marlon Byrd of a homer in the eighth, keeping the game within reach.

"I take pride in playing defense, my offense and every element of the game," Venable said. "Every element of the game is something I work hard at. I think of myself as a baseball player, and when you're playing well, you're playing well."

With another strong week at the plate, Venable was hitting .377 with five home runs and eight RBIs during his hitting streak, dating back to Aug. 2. For the season, he was batting .266 with a team-leading 17 home runs and 42 RBIs entering play Monday.