Kemp has 11 extra-base hits in last 12 games

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

It is pretty clear now that Matt Kemp is en fuego.

The Padres right fielder continued his assault Friday night at Petco Park with two more extra-base hits, including the back-end of the Padres' first back-to-back homers in almost two years.

Kemp has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games, going 17-for-44 (.386) with 11 extra-base hits - six doubles and five home runs - for 11 RBIs. His 11 extra-base hits are the most in the National League since July 7.

In addition to hitting .386 since July 7, Kemp has a .449 on-base percentage and a .864 slugging percentage for a 1.313 OPS.

Going back farther, Kemp is hitting .313 (26-for-83) with seven home runs, eight doubles and 17 RBIs in 23 games. And 10 of his 11 home runs this season have come in his last 39 games. He has 27 RBIs during that run.

Now, returning to the back-to-back home runs. They also came on back-to-back pitches in the fifth inning.

First, Yonder Alonso connected on a 2-and-2 pitch from Marlins' right-hander Dan Haren that landed 423 feet from home plate in the right field stands to give the Padres a 2-1 lead. Kemp then drove Haren's next pitch 412 feet over the fence in center to make it 3-1.

Before Friday night, the Padres last back-to-back homers were delivered by Chase Headley and Chris Denorfia on July 27, 2013, at Arizona.

Both Kemp and Alonso have a history of success against the Marlins and Haren.

Kemp is a career .308 hitter (53-for-172) against the Marlins and is 13-for-42 (.310) lifetime against Haren with a double and four homers. Alonso is hitting .365 (27-for-74) in 20 career games against his hometown team and is 4-for-11 (.364) against Haren.

FROM THE SCORECARD:

--Right-hander Andrew Cashner has officially made 19 starts this season - plus last Sunday's rain-stopped game. Arguably three of his best seven starts of the season have come during his last four outings. Cashner is 2-1 and the Padres are 3-1 over those four outings as Cashner has posted a 2.60 earned run average - eight runs allowed on 19 hits and six walks with 19 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings. After allowing 13 homers in his first 14 starts, Cashner has not allowed a home run in his last five starts since June 16. Cashner is now 14-14 with a 2.41 record in 54 career games (32 starts) at Petco Park.

-- Brett Wallace, who was making his first start as a position player Friday since being promoted from Triple-A El Paso on June 19, also hit his first Major League homer since Sept. 14, 2013. Before starting at third base Friday, Wallace had made two starts for the Padres as a designated hitter in interleague games in addition to being 4-for-16 as a pinch-hitter. Wallace was 2-for-3 Friday, which was his first multi-hit game in the majors since Sept. 6, 2013.

-- The Padres are 11-5 over their last 16 games against the Marlins at Petco Park dating back to the start of the 2011 season. During that run, the Padres starting pitchers have a collective 10-2 record with a 2.27 ERA with 95 strikeouts against 26 walks in 103 2/3 innings. The Padres are 7-2 over their last nine games against the Marlins at Petco Park.

-- Right-handed closer Craig Kimbrel successfully converted his 18th straight save opportunity Friday night. It was his 27th success in 28 tries this season. Over his last 22 outings, Kimbrel has 16 saves and has allowed two runs 13 hits, 10 walks and a hit batter in 21 2/3 innings - for an ERA of 0.83.