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

Manuel Margot’s home run in Miami Tuesday night was the center fielder’s third in six games and fourth in 14 games after he had gone homerless over 54 games since April 14.

Margot’s 2-for-4 also extended his recent run of reaching base in 15 of his last 16 games – although his career-best run of reaching base in 14 straight games had ended Sunday against Atlanta at Petco Park.

Since June 22, Margot is 12-for-47 with three doubles, the four homers, 10 walks, three stolen bases, nine RBIs and 15 runs scored – for a .255 batting average, a .397 on-base percentage and a .574 slugging percentage for a .971 OPS.

Margot drew a career-high four walks in last Saturday’s game. During the run he was also 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles as a pinch-hitter.

Worth noting

• After finishing the first half with three straight wins against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, the Padres have opened the second half with four straight losses to fall to eighth in the race for the two National League Wild Card berths. In addition, the Padres Tuesday fell into the National League West basement. The Padres now have a 19-27 record against teams with losing records and 23-27 at home. They have lost seven straight games at Petco Park. And at 45-49, they are four games under .500 for the first time this season.

• In the four straight losses since the All-Star break, Padres relief pitchers have given up 15 runs on 21 hits and seven walks with eight strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings – for a 7.64 ERA and a 1.585 WHIP. The starting pitchers have a 6.38 ERA over the four games with a 1.484 WHIP, giving up 13 runs on 18 hits and eight walks with 14 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings.

• OF Hunter Renfroe was 3-for-5 Tuesday night and has a five-game hitting streak against the Marlins. He has hit safely in 11 of the 12 games he’s played against the Marlins, going 17-for-36 (.472).